I    it 


m 


iiliiliiiiiliiitmMl 


}fV\c^^  ct  JX)aM{^s^  i 


(l^Jcc^      r^^,.^-^^^     / 


CK^i 


LIBRARY 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
0¥  CALIFORNIA 

SANTA  BARBARA 

PRESENTED  BY 


CARROLL  PURSELL 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN 
RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 


•Tl 


he^)^ 


THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

IIXW  YORK    •    BOSTON  •    CHICAGO  •    DALLAS 
ATLANTA   •    SAN   FRANCISCO 

MACMILLAN  &  CO.,  Limited 

LONDON   -    BOMBAY  •    CALCUTTA 
MELBOURNE 

THE  MACMILLAN  CO.  OF  CANADA,  Ltd. 

TORONTO 


'Ji 
3 


A 


PhPh 


i    J3 

;  ii 

rc/3 


o 


bJO 


THE  STORY  OF  THE 
AMERICAN  RED  CROSS 
IN  ITALY/ 


BY 

CHARLES  M.  BAKEWELL 


JI3eto  pork 

THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 

1920 

All  rights  reserved 


COPTEIGHT,  1920, 

BT  THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY 


Set  up  and  electrotyped.     Fublislied,  August,  1920 


INTRODUCTION 

The  purpose  of  this  book  is  not  to  give  a  detailed 
statistical  account  of  Eed  Cross  activities  in  Italy, —  that 
may  be  found  in  the  various  Department  Eeports, —  but 
rather  to  tell  the  American  people  who  contributed  so  gen- 
erously to  the  Eed  Cross  funds  the  simple  tale  of  what 
their  dollars  did  in  Italy.  It  is  a  great  and  inspiring 
record  and  one  in  which  Americans  may  well  take  pride. 

The  American  Eed  Cross  came  to  Italy  in  the  hour 
of  her  greatest  need,  not  to  bring  charity,  but  to  render 
justice,  by  alleviating  as  far  as  possible  the  sufferings 
brought  on  by  two  hard  years  of  fighting  in  our  common 
cause  before  our  own  country  took  up  arms.  The  ma- 
terial aid  that  it  has  been  privileged  to  give,  at  the  front, 
in  canteens,  in  assistance  to  hospitals,  and  in  helping  refu- 
gees and  the  needy  families  of  soldiers,  stretches  from  one 
end  of  Italy  to  the  other  and  looms  large  in  figures.  But 
it  is  not  in  figures  that  one  may  find  the  true  measure  of 
its  achievement.  What  mattered  most  in  winning  the 
war,  and  what  matters  most  for  our  future  relations,  is 
the  fact  that  through  this  material  aid  the  Eed  Cross  suc- 
ceeded in  translating  into  deeds  the  soul  of  America,  in 
making  it  plain  to  the  Italians  that  we  were  there  to  work 
as  brothers,  filled  with  a  common  enthusiasm  and  inspired 
by  common  ideals;  the  fact  that  through  it  the  heart  of 
America  touched  the  heart  of  Italy,  strengthening  the 
bonds  of  friendship  that  bind  our  nations  together,  by 
mutual  understanding  and  mutual  respect. 

It  is  the  hope  of  the  writer  that  this  narrative  of  Eed 
Cross  work  may  in  its  way  contribute  to  a  better  under- 
standing between  our  two  peoples,  by  conveying  to  the 


vi  IliTTRODUCTION 

American  reader  sometliing  of  that  finer  and  more  dis- 
criminating appreciation  of  Italian  character  that  our 
workers  in  the  field  have  invariably  gained. 

The  story  of  the  Red  Cross  in  Italy  I  shall  tell  in  a 
strictly  impersonal  way.  There  will  be  no  attempt  to  ap- 
portion praise,  and,  indeed,  as  far  as  it  is  possible  to  do 
so,  names  will  be  omitted  altogether.  This  procedure  is 
not  only  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  modesty  that  has 
characterized  the  work  of  the  Commission  from  the  begin- 
ning; it  is  also  dictated  by  necessity.  Only  the  Keeper 
of  all  records  could  justly  distribute  credits,  and  there  is 
no  doubt  that  on  His  books  some  of  our  humblest  work- 
ers will  come  in  for  the  highest  meed  of  praise.  I  have  in 
mind  one  Red  Cross  worker  who  has  been  buried  for  ten 
months  in  what  to  the  casual  tourist  would  appear  to  be 
one  of  the  most  Godforsaken  towms  in  Italy  —  poor,  dilapi- 
dated, far  from  the  railroad  and  out  of  touch  with  the  world. 
Here,  cut  off  from  all  communication  with  her  kind,  she 
has  performed  her  modest  task,  taking  no  vacation,  daily 
on  the  job  from  early  morning  until  late  in  the  evening. 
Happy  in  her  work,  she  has  come  to  love  the  simple  people 
with  whom  her  lot  is  cast,  and  should  you  commiserate 
her,  she  will  reply  with  a  smile :  "  Human  nature  is 
pretty  much  alike  wherever  you  find  it."  By  her  tact  and 
devotion  she  has  won  the  affection  of  the  people  and  filled 
with  courage  and  a  new  loyalty  hearts  that  were  wavering 
and  made  of  a  disloyal  town  one  of  the  most  loyal.  There 
is  no  glory  and  no  fame  in  obscure  service  like  this.  But 
such  a  faithful  servant  desires  no  glory.  She  is  the 
spirit  of  the  Red  Cross  in  the  field,  and  she  has  many 
names, —  many  which  I  know,  many  that  I  could  not 
give.  Therefore  I  name  her  not.  Let  me  simply,  once 
for  all,  clean  the  score  by  paying  tribute  to  her  wherever 
in  Italy  she  may  be  hidden,  and  to  all  the  army  of  Red 
Cross  workers  in  Rome  and  in  the  field,  high  and  low, 
whose  devotion  has  made  the  work  in  Italy  a  success. 

One  exception  only  shall  I  make  to  this  rule,  and  no 


INTKODUCTION  vii 

Red  Cross  worker  would  forgive  me  if  I  failed  to  do  so. 
For  there  is  one  thing  in  which  there  is  unanimous  agree- 
ment and  that  is,  loyalty  to  and  admiration  for  Colonel 
Eobert  Perkins,  the  Italian  Commissioner.  It  was  not 
surprising  that  a  successful  business  man  should  prove  in 
a  new  field  a  leader  of  men,  but  it  was  indeed  surprising 
that  a  man  knowing  little  or  nothing  of  Italy  or  Italians 
should  so  promptly  grasp  the  political  and  economic  situa- 
tion, understand  the  people,  win  their  hearts,  and  then 
succeed  in  doing  just  the  right  things  to  make  all  Italy 
know  that  America  was  whole-heartedly  with  her  in  the 
fight.  His  spirit  has  permeated  the  entire  organization 
and  given  unity  and  aim  to  its  efforts.  It  is  due  to  his  tact 
and  wisdom  and  breadth  of  vision  that  the  work  of  the 
Eed  Cross  in  Italy  has  been,  as  a  prominent  Italian  re- 
cently expressed  it :  "  Not  merely  a  work  of  compassion, 
but  also  a  work  of  large  constructive  statesmanship." 

In  an  undertaking  of  such  magnitude,  where  much  had 
to  be  entrusted  to  men  and  women  chosen  from  all  walks  of 
life  with  no  special  equipment  for  their  tasks  save  common 
intelligence  and  a  spirit  of  devotion,  some  mistakes  were  in- 
evitable. It  were  as  easy  as  it  would  be  gratuitous  to 
point  them  out.  For  in  a  situation  that  called  for  im- 
mediate and  striking  action  the  greatest  of  all  blunders 
would  have  been  to  avoid  all  blunders.  That  would  have 
meant  deliberation  and  delay,  and  delay  would  have  been 
an  irreparable  blunder.  Time  was  the  essence  of  the 
undertaking.  But  anyone  who  will  make  a  careful  in- 
vestigation of  the  work  that  has  been  done  throughout 
Italy  will  be  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  the  work  of  the 
Italian  Commission  is  entitled  to  its  full  share  in  the 
commendation  of  General  Pershing  when,  speaking  of  the 
American  Red  Cross  in  general,  he  said :  "  Since  the 
world  began  there  never  has  been  a  work  for  humanity 
conducted  on  so  large  a  scale  with  such  economy,  efficiency, 
and  despatch." 

The  writer  wishes  to  acknowledge  his  indebtedness  to  all 


viii  INTEODUCTION 

members  of  the  Commission  and  District  Delegates  and 
to  the  many  other  Red  Cross  workers  who  have  so  gen- 
erously aided  him  in  his  investigations  and  to  thank  them 
for  their  unfailing  courtesy.  He  is  under  special  obliga- 
tion to  Major  William  Hereford,  Director  of  the  Public 
Information  Department,  from  whose  well  kept  records 
he  has  made  large  borrowings  and  whose  advice  and 
friendly  counsel  have  been  invaluable. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  Italy's  Entrance  into  the  War  —  Early  Gains  — 
The  American  Belief  Clearing  House  —  The 
Baker  Commission 1 

n.    Caporetto  —  Befugees  —  Bed    Cross    Emergency 

Commission 18 

III.  Arrival  of  Permanent  Commission  —  Campidoglio 

Meeting  —  Plans  and  Ideals  —  Organization  — 
Civilian  Belief  and  the  "  Inner  Front  "     .     .     33 

IV.  Celebrating  the  Anniversary  of  America's  Decla- 

ration OF  War  —  Cash  Distribution  to  Soldiers' 
Families  —  Mr.  Davison's  Visit  —  Meeting  in 
Colosseum  —  Station  Canteens 55 

V.  BoLLiNG  Canteens  —  The  June  Offensive  —  A.  B. 
C.  Ambulance  Service  —  The  Story  of  Lieu- 
tenant McKey 72 

VI.     Surgical  Dressings  —  Hospital  Supplies  —  Hospi- 
tals —  Dispensaries  —  Fighting   Spanish   Fever 

—  Child  Welfare  Work  —  Summer  Colonies    .     86 

VII.  A  Tour  Trough  Italy  est  the  Wake  of  the  Bed 
Cross  —  Genoa  —  Turin  —  Milan  —  Padua  — 
Venice  —  Florence 109 

Vm.    Tour  Trough  Italy  in  the  Wake  of  the  Bed  Cross 
(Contdtued)  —  BoME  —  Naples  —  A\^llino  — 

—  Bari  —  Beggio  Calabru  —  Sicily  (Taormina 
AND  Palermo)  —  Sardinia 130 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGB 

IX.  Work  with  American  Troops  in  Italy  —  The  Ac- 
tion AT  THE  Tagliamento  —  A  Chaplain's  Letteb 
—  Delivery  of  Allotmen  Cheques  —  The  Home 
Service  Department 157 

X.     The   Battle   of    Vittorio    Veneto  —  Ambulances 

AND  KOLLING   CaNTEENS  —  FEEDING  THE  EeTURNED 

Prisoners  at  Trieste  —  Relief  in  the  Invaded 
Territory  —  Aiding  Eepatriates  in  the  Trentino  182 

XL  Getting  Out  —  Fighting  Tuberculosis  —  Conclu- 
sion  203 

Appendices 

Total  Expenditures  of  A.  E.  C.  Commission  to 
Italy,  November,  1917,  to  June  30,  1919  —  Italian 
version  of  Star  Spangled  Banner  —  American 
Relief  Clearing  House  in  Rome  —  A.  R.  C.  Tem- 
porary Commission  —  Emergency  Organization 
of  A.  R.  C.  in  Italy  —  A.  R.  C.  Commission  in 
Italy  as  of  December  20,  1917  —  Organization  as 
of  November  1,  1918  —  Representatives  for  Emer- 
gency Work  in  Devastated  Territory  —  Home 
Service  Department  of  A.  R.  C.  in  Italy  —  Am- 
bulance Service  and  Rolling  Canteen  Service  — 
American  Personnel — Italian  Personnel — State- 
ment of  Some  of  the  Chief  Items  Other  than 
Medical  and  Surgical  Supplies  Received  and  Dis- 
tributed by  the  A.  R.  C.  in  Italy 209 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

The  Italian  Commissioner,  the  Chairman  and  the  Secretary 

of  the  A.  R.  C Frontispiece 

TACING 
PAGE 

At  Quarto  on  the  fifth  of  May,  1915 3 

The  King  of  Italy 8 

The  Italian  Commission 33 

Map  showing  system  of  transportation 39 

The  ouvroir  at  Toscania 47 

Eefugee  boys  at  Monteporzio 53 

Reception  to  Mr.  Davison  in  the  Colosseum    .....     64 

American  Red  Cross  Canteen  on  Grappa 72 

On  a  camouflaged  road  at  the  front 80 

Lieutenant  McKey's  rolling  kitchen 84 

American  Red  Cross  Hospital  at  Rimini 95 

Map  showing  distribution  of  Red  Cross  work  in  Italy     .      .   109 

The  noonday  meal  at  Varedo 113 

Red  Cross  children  in  underground  refuge  at  Venice     .      .   122 

The  asilo  at  Lucca 129 

At  the  seaside  colony  at  Mazzaro 146 

Religious  procession  at  Desola 155 

Canteen  for  American  Soldiers  at  Villa  Franca  .  .  .  162 
Taking  the  wounded  from  a  dressing  station  back  of  line  .  184 
"Home" 196 


THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS 
IN  ITALY 

CHAPTER  I 

Italy's  Entrance  into  the  War  —  Early  Gains  —  The  American 
Eelief  Clearing  House  —  The  Baker  Commission 

It  was  the  fifth  day  of  May,  1915.  Special  trains  had 
been  running  into  Genoa  since  early  morning.  But  it  was 
not  Genoa  that  held  the  attraction  that  had  brought  this 
unwonted  crowd  of  visitors.  Through  the  city  they  hur- 
ried, and  on  to  Quarto  by  the  sea,  some  three  miles  to  the 
east,  on  to  the  sacred  rock  where,  just  fifty-five  years  be- 
fore, Garibaldi  had  set  sail  with  his  red-shirted  regiment 
of  a  thousand  men,  to  realize  the  dream  that  had  inspired 
him  when  still  a  poor  fisherman's  boy  of  Nice  —  the  dream 
of  an  Italy,  great,  united,  and  free.  The  ostensible  ob- 
ject of  the  gathering  was  the  unveiling  of  a  monument  in 
honor  of  the  "  Thousand."  But  it  was  not  of  the  past  that 
the  people  were  thinking  as  they  trudged  along  the  dusty 
road.  They  had  not  come  to  listen  to  praises  of  Italy's 
hero,  or  to  hear  once  more  the  story,  which  reads  like  a 
Dumas  romance,  of  the  dramatic  successes  of  his  little 
band  of  intrepid  men,  first  in  Sicily,  afterwards  on  the 
mainland.  The  present  was  all  absorbing.  There  was  a 
world  war  raging,  and  the  question  of  Italy's  part  therein 
was  hurrying  to  a  decision.  Would  she,  would  she  not, 
declare  war? 

A  few  months  before  Maeterlinck  had  brought  to  Italy 
the  story  of  Belgium's  wrongs,  and  the  reception  every- 
where accorded  him  plainly  showed  where  the  sympathies 

1 


2  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

of  the  people  lay.  Before  tlie  war  broke  out,  on  July  25, 
1914,  Italy  had  sent  word  to  Vienna  that  should  war  re- 
sult from  the  offensive  note  to  Servia  it  would  he  due  to 
this  "  act  of  provocation  aud  aggression  on  the  part  of 
Austria,"  and  she  would  consider  herself  absolved  from 
any  obligation  under  the  Triple  Alliance.  And  when,  in 
consequence  of  this  stand,  the  Italian  Minister  was  able 
a  few  days  later  to  inform  the  French  Ambassador  that, 
in  case  of  war,  France  had  nothing  to  fear  from  Italy, 
it  gave  him  as  much  satisfaction  to  deliver  that  message 
as  it  did  the  Ambassador  to  receive  it.  For  whatever  the 
disputes  that  France  and  Italy  may  have  had,  they  have 
been  of  the  nature  of  family  quarrels  which,  however  bitter 
they  may  become,  vanish  in  the  presence  of  an  attack  from 
without.  There  is  a  deep  underlying  attachment  of  Italy 
to  France,  due  in  part  to  ties  of  blood  and  in  part  to  ad- 
miration of  her  democratic  institutions. 

But  to  sympathize  is  one  thing;  to  fight,  another.  And 
the  Italians  are  a  peace-loving  people.  Germany,  de- 
spairing from  the  first  of  having  Italy  for  an  ally,  had 
been  bending  all  her  efforts  to  keep  her  neutral.  She 
had  sent  Von  Biilow,  her  master  diplomat  of  the  old 
school,  wily,  ingratiating,  and  unscrupulous,  to  work  to  that 
end.  All  the  dark  German  methods  of  intrigue  with  which 
we  in  America  became  familiar  were  in  Italy  intensified. 
And  the  Central  Powers  had  Ambassadors  at  the  Vatican  as 
well  as  at  the  Quirinal.  It  is  as  if  we  had  had  two  Bern- 
storffs  and  two  Dumbas  to  contend  with.  Moreover, 
through  the  control  of  banks,  hotels,  commerce  and  in- 
dustry, German  capital  had  already  all  but  effected  the 
peaceful  conquest  of  Italy.  And  the  opportunity  given 
through  this  commercial  supremacy  for  spying  and  plot- 
ting and  making  propaganda  was  unlimited.  And  Italy 
was  poor,  and  struggling  under  a  heavy  debt.  The  odds 
seemed  all  on  Germany's  side. 

And  yet,  another  force  had  been  working  and  steadily 
gaining  headway, —  one  with  which  the  Central  Powers 


ITALY'S  ENTRANCE  INTO  THE  WAR  3 

never  properly  reckoned, —  the  force  of  ideals,  the  force 
that  defies  the  obvious,  courts  the  impossible,  and  leads 
forlorn  hopes;  the  force  that  sent  Columbus  over  the 
trackless  sea,  and  sent,  Garibaldi  with  his  "  Thousand " 
from  Quarto  fifty-five  years  before  to  rescue  Sicily  and  re- 
deem Italy.  In  the  crowd  gathered  on  the  rock  that  day 
counsels  of  prudence  would  have  fallen  on  deaf  ears. 
^Tiat  stood  out  clearly  was  the  fact  that  the  task  there  so 
bravely  begun  had  not  been  completed,  for  there  was  still 
a  large  part  of  Italian  territory  under  the  heel  of  the  Aus- 
trian oppressor. 

The  orator,  the  poet  D'Annunzio,  was  a  small  insignifi- 
cant looking  man  with  a  thin  voice.  ISTot  many  of  the 
crowd  could  hear  what  he  said  and  few  of  these  could 
understand  all  that  they  heard.  It  was  a  strange  speech 
for  a  popular  gathering,  highly  poetic,  replete  with  meta- 
phors and  recondite  classical  allusions,  full  of  strange 
words  or  of  familiar  words  given  a  strange  and  unusual 
meaning.  It  is  hard  for  Americans,  more  matter-of-fact 
and  downright,  to  understand  the  effect  which  this  and  the 
speeches  that  followed  on  succeeding  days,  as  delegation 
after  delegation  waited  upon  the  poet,  had  upon  those  who 
heard  them,  or  read  them  afterwards,  for  they  were  at 
once  telegraphed  from  one  end  of  Italy  to  the  other  and 
printed  in  full  in  the  leading  papers.  But  there  is  some- 
thing of  the  poet  and  much  of  the  hero-worshipper  in  all 
Italians ;  and  their  love  of  Italy,  which  is  almost  passion- 
ate, comes  very  near  to  being  the  only  vital  religion  that 
they  know.  They  rise  to  their  greatest  heights  of  heroism 
and  self  sacrifice  when  the  voice  of  duty  is  heard  as  the 
clear  call  of  the  heroes  of  old  bidding  them  "  Carry  on." 
It  was  not  a  freak  of  fancy  that  led  the  poet-orator  that 
day  to  borrow  the  langnage  of  the  Bible,  and  adopt  the 
tone  of  the  prophet  as  he  brought  to  life  the  old  Garibald- 
ian  heroes  to  speed  the  new  venture  that  should  finally 
realize  the  national  aspirations  of  Italy. 

Was  it  by  chance  that  this  meeting,  at  which  King  and 


4  THE  AMERICAN  BED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

Cabinet  were  to  have  been  present,  thougli  forced  at  the 
last  moment  by  affairs  of  state  to  remain  away,  fell  just 
two  days  after  Italy  had  sent  the  note  to  Austria  declar- 
ing her  intention  to  resume  her  freedom  of  action,  since 
the  Triple  Alliance  had  been  broken  by  Austria's  deeds  ? 
It  was  almost  too  well  staged. 

On  the  seventh  day  of  May  the  Lusitania  was  sunk. 
This  unspeakable  crime  against  humanity  had  the  same 
effect  in  Italy  that  it  had  throughout  the  rest  of  the  civil- 
ized world.  The  meaning  of  the  world-conflict  was  made 
plain  to  everyone.  Minds  that  were  wavering,  hesitated 
no  longer.  Everywhere  throughout  Italy  the  air  was  elec- 
tric with  tension.  And  Parliament  was  to  meet  on  the 
twentieth.     The  decisive  hour  was  approaching. 

German  agents,  taking  alarm,  were  busier  than  ever  in 
political  circles  in  Rome.  The  path  from  the  German  to 
the  Austrian  Embassy  was  well-worn  from  the  frequent 
visits  of  Von  Biilow  in  his  endeavor  to  wrest  concessions 
from  Austria,  which  he  immediately  carried  to  Baron  Son- 
nino,  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs,  in  the  vain  hope  of 
bribing  Italy  to  remain  neutral.  (Von  Biilow  afterward, 
commenting  on  his  failure,  said  it  was  just  his  bad  luck, 
on  coming  to  a  country  where  everybody  is  always  ready 
to  tell  anybody  everything  he  knows,  to  find  himself  pitted 
against  a  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs  who  was  the  one  man 
in  Italy  who  never  told  anybody  anything.) 

Events  were  crowding  fast  in  those  fateful  spring  days. 
It  was  on  the  same  seventh  of  May  that  Rome  heard  that 
Russia's  line  had  broken  and  that  her  army  was  in  full  re- 
treat in  the  Carpathians.  The  German  interests  made 
much  of  this,  and  to  their  bribes  they  now  added  threats. 
Italy  did  not  dare  to  fight  now,  they  said,  for  the  German 
forces  released  by  the  Russian  collapse  could  combine  with 
the  Austrian ;  and  they  threatened  Italy  with  a  punishment 
worse  than  that  of  Belgium, —  showing  thereby  the  usual 
German  inability  to  understand  the  psychology  of  inde- 
pendent and  non-cowardly  peoples. 


ITALY'S  ENTRANCE  INTO  THE  WAR  ^ 

When  the  tension  was  at  its  greatest  Giolitti  arrived  in 
Kome.  JSTow  Giolitti  had  been  Prime  Minister  many 
months  before  and  had  resigned  his  office  in  March,  1914, 
when  still  in  full  control  of  a  majority  in  the  Chamber 
of  Deputies  rather  than  face  the  responsibilities  of  dealing 
with  a  threatened  labor  crisis.  And  Giolitti,  as  was  well 
known,  was  opposed  to  Italy's  entering  the  war,  and  he 
still  controlled  a  majority  of  the  deputies.  There  were 
many  gatherings  of  the  Giolittians,  "neutralists"  they 
called  themselves  —  the  Italian  disguise  for  pro-German 
—  and  over  three  hundred,  or  roughly  three-fifths  of  the 
House,  pledged  their  support  to  their  old  leader. 

On  the  eleventh  of  May  the  papers  published  the  details 
of  the  concessions  Austria  was  ready  to  make.  Italy,  as 
the  price  of  her  neutrality,  was  to  receive,  after  the  war  wa3 
over,  all  the  Italian-speaking  provinces  of  the  Trentino; 
her  eastern  frontier  was  to  reach  the  Isonzo  and  include 
Gorizia;  she  was  to  receive  two  islands  of  Dalmatia; 
Trieste  was  to  have  an  independent  government ;  Italy  was 
to  have  full  liberty  of  action  in  Albania,  and  to  receive  spe- 
cial trade  concessions  from  Austria.  We  could  obtain  a 
"good  deal"  (parecchio),  argued  the  Giolittians,  without 
war.  And  here  it  was,  printed  for  all  to  read.  By  pub- 
lishing the  Austrian  proposals  the  cards  had  been  laid  on 
the  table,  and  the  question  of  their  acceptance  put  up  to 
the  people.  The  answer  of  the  people  was  given  in  pro- 
war  demonstrations  all  over  Italy. 

The  poet  D'Annunzio,  arriving  at  Rome  the  follow- 
ing day,  was  welcomed  by  a  crowd  of  more  than  fifty  thou- 
sand citizens  who  packed  the  large  square  in  front  of  the 
station  and  lined  the  streets  leading  to  his  hotel.  This  was 
not  a  personal  tribute  to  the  poet  who,  as  a  man,  was  none 
too  popular  in  Italy  at  that  time.  But  in  some  mys- 
terious way  he  had  become  the  spokesman  of  the  war 
party.  In  his  Roman  speeches,  beginning  with  the 
"  Harangue  to  the  Roman  people  in  tumult,"  he  showed 
that  he  knew  how  to  reach  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen. 


6  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

Throughout  them  all,  in  the  background,  one  continually 
caught  glimpses  of  the  brave  deeds  of  the  "  Thousand  " 
fifty-five  years  ago,  and  the  voice  of  the  old  Hero  was  heard 
uttering  the  words  of  scorn :  "  Long  enough  has  Italy 
been  a  museum,  a  hotel,  the  world's  playground,  a  charm- 
ing old  curiosity  shop,  long  enough  has  her  sky  been 
smeared  with  Prussian  blue  for  international  honey- 
moons. .  .  .  Our  national  genius  bids  us  rise  and  put  our 
stamp  on  the  real  world  of  to-day.  .  .  .  Treason  is  in  the 
air.  .  .  .  We  are  on  the  point  of  being  sold  like  a  mean 
herd  of  cattle.  .  .  .  They  threaten  to  put  the  brand  of 
slave  upon  the  brow  of  everyone  of  us.  .  .  .  The  name  of 
Italian  will  be  a  name  to  make  us  blush  and  hide  ourselves 
in  shame,  a  name  to  scorch  the  lips  that  utter  it.  .  .  . 
The  time  to  talk  has  passed.  It  is  time  to  act  and  act  as 
Romans  should." 

But  Giolitti  was  still  in  Eome  and  the  Giolittians  in  the 
majority  in  the  Chamber  of  Deputies^  It  was  then  that 
Salandra  played  his  master  stroke.  Without  waiting  for 
Parliament  to  convene  and  the  test  vote  to  be  taken,  he 
placed  his  resignation  and  that  of  his  cabinet,  in  the  hands 
of  the  King  on  the  thirteenth  of  May,  the  reason  given 
being  that  the  views  of  the  government  had  not  that 
unanimous  support  of  the  parties  in  Parliament  which  the 
situation  required.  The  news  of  the  resignation  was 
flashed  all  over  Italy.  The  people  were  aghast.  Did  this 
mean  that  the  pro-Germans  had  won ;  that  "  Von  Billow's 
flunkey,"  as  Giolitti  was  termed,  had  triumphed  ?  There 
were  more  war  demonstrations  that  evening  in  every  city 
of  the  realm  —  and  riots  in  Rome,  demonstrations  which 
were  repeated  on  succeeding  days.  On  the  fourteenth,  at 
Milan  the  demonstration  turned  into  a  riot  with  attendant 
bloodshed.  An  American,  whose  curiosity  had  led  him  to 
follow  the  crowd,  had  more  than  once  to  dash  like  a 
criminal  into  a  dark  alley  for  concealment,  lest,  being 
obviously  a  foreigner  and  of  blonde  complexion,  he  be 
taken  for  a  German.     A  mob  is  not  discriminating.     Even 


ITALY'S  ENTRANCE  INTO  THE  WAR  7 

Italians  with  light  hair  pulled  their  caps  low  over  their 
heads.  There  were  bonfires  in  the  squares  where  neutral- 
ist papers  were  burned.  The  crowd  broke  into  a  large  Ger- 
man-owned music  store  —  a  quite  un-Italian  proceeding 
—  smashing  instruments  and  throwing  a  grand  piano  from 
a  second  story  window  (the  very  building  which  by  chance 
later  became  headquarters  of  the  Eed  Cross  in  Milan). 
The  crowd  was  in  an  ugly  mood,  and  there  were  many 
threats  of  what  would  happen  should  Salandra's  resigna- 
tion be  accepted.  That  same  day  in  Kome  the  Giolittians 
were  openly  branded  as  traitors,  and  there  were  more 
demonstrations  there. 

Salandra's  stroke  had  been  successful.  The  people 
had  spoken  and  with  no  uncertain  voice.  The  various  po- 
litical parties,  taking  the  hint,  passed  resolutions  in  favor 
of  Salandra  and  his  policy.  And  when  on  the  sixteenth 
the  announcement  was  made  that  the  King  had  refused  to 
accept  Salandra's  resignation,  the  enthusiasm  of  the  people 
was  unbounded.  By  the  hundred  thousand  they  marched 
to  the  Quirinal  and  called  for  the  King,  who  with  the 
Crown  Prince  greeted  them  from  a  balcony,  and  then  on 
to  the  house  of  Salandra.  Everywhere  throughout  Italy 
there  was  rejoicing,  bells  were  rung,  the  tri-color  waved 
and  shouts  of  "  Viva  I'ltalia,"  "  Viva  la  guerra  "  filled  the 
air. 

One  last  effort  the  Austrians  made  to  throw  discord 
into  the  political  situation.  On  the  twentieth  of  May,  the 
very  moment  that  Parliament  was  to  meet,  the  Austrian 
Embassy  gave  out  an  official  statement  the  substance  of 
which  was  that  the  territories  she  was  willing  to  cede  to 
Italy  would  be  handed  over  immediately,  instead  of  after 
the  war,  as  previously  announced.  The  answer  was  given 
by  Parliament,  now  thoroughly  aroused,  in  a  vote  for  war 
by  an  overwhelming  majority,  367  to  54 ;  and  at  the  same 
time  full  power  was  granted  to  Salandra's  cabinet.  The 
formal  declaration  of  war  was  handed  to  Baron  Burian  at 
yienna  on  the  twenty-third.     Diplomatic  relations  were 


8  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

at  the  same  time  broken  with  Germany,  though  war  was 
not  declared.  But  Von  Billow's  secretary,  on  leaving 
Rome,  gave  out  the  statement  that  "  Germany  and  Aus- 
tria were  one,  and  that  a  formal  declaration  of  war  be- 
tween Italy  and  Germany  was  superfluous.  Such  a  dec- 
laration would  be  given  by  German  soldiers  on  the 
battlefield." 

Three  days  later  the  King  left  for  the  front  to  take 
supreme  command  of  the  army  and  navy.  His  order  of 
the  day  to  the  troops  began  with  the  words :  "  The 
solemn  hour  of  Italy's  vindication  has  come,"  and  ended 
as  follows :  "  Soldiers,  yours  will  be  the  glory  of  raising 
the  Italian  tri-color  on  the  sacred  frontiers  that  nature  it- 
self has  set  as  the  boundary  of  our  country.  Yours  will 
be  the  glory  of  completing  the  work  that  your  fathers 
with  such  great  heroism  began." 

It  is  clear  that  for  Italy  the  war  was  a  people's  war. 
The  people  willed  it.  The  cabinet  may  have  planned  and 
bargained  behind  closed  doors,  but,  with  the  majority  of 
the  politicians  opposed  to  the  war,  it  would  have  been 
helpless  without  the  consent  and  willing  support  of  the 
people.  In  saying  the  people  willed  it,  one  means  the 
people  of  the  cities.  There  alone  the  country  finds  voice. 
The  large  agricultural  population  live  for  the  most  part 
out  of  contact  with  the  world  of  affairs  in  ignorance  of 
what  is  going  on.  They  are  patient,  living  by  routine, 
and  it  takes  a  long  time  for  ideas  to  penetrate  and  take 
hold.  And  the  influence  of  the  priests  at  that  time  was, 
with  some  notable  exceptions,  for  the  maintenance  of 
peace.  So  the  people  in  the  country  districts  were  either 
indifferent  or  opposed  to  the  war.  All  this  was  to  change 
in  time. 

All  credit  must  be  given  to  Italy  for  her  decision  made 
in  the  face  of  considerations  of  prudence  and  narrower 
self-interest,  and  in  spite  of  pressure  brought  to  bear  from 
influential  sources,  in  spite  of  the  underground  plotting 
and  open  propaganda  of  a  well  organized  and  ably  di- 


Italy's  best-beloved  citiztn,  her  democratic  soldier  kin;;. 


ITALY'S  ENTRANCE  INTO  THE  WAR  9 

rected  host  of  German  spies.  And  yet  her  decision  was 
inevitable.  Italy  has  been  for  the  whole  modern  world  the 
mainspring  of  those  intangible  values  that  find  expres- 
sion in  religion  and  art,  in  music  and  poetry,  and  that 
constitute  civilization  —  values  against  whose  power  over 
the  spirit  of  man  the  Huns  of  all  ages  have  hurled  their 
hordes  in  vain.  ISTowhere  has  the  power  of  ideals  been 
better  manifested  than  in  Italy.  She  had  to  run  true  to 
form.  Sympathy  for  France  and  Belgium  and  the  ideals 
of  freedom  for  which  they  were  fighting  forms  the  deep 
underlying,  though  at  first  hardly  articulate,  motive  that 
determined  her  choice.  This  was  re-enforced  by  intense 
hatred  of  Austria  and  the  evil  things  for  which  she  stood, 
a  righteous  hatred  which  had  its  origin  in  the  bitter 
wrongs  which  Italy  had  suffered  during  the  long  years 
of  Austria's  domination. 

There  was,  however,  another  motive,  on  the  surface 
more  evident.  Call  it  national  self-interest  if  you  will. 
It  was  Italy's  true  interest,  the  completion  of  her  libera- 
tion, the  vision  of  the  greater  Italy.  This  was  her  "  sa- 
cred egoism  "  (sacro  egoismo)  —  the  phrase  is  Salandra's, 
and  has  been  much  criticised,  and  foolishly.  It  is  merely 
honest.  All  depends  upon  where  the  emphasis  is  laid, 
how  large  or  how  small  the  national  ego.  To  be  a  united 
people  able  to  maintain  its  freedom  and  independence  is 
no  unworthy  aim.  Did  any  nation  enter  the  war  simply 
and  solely  from  altruistic  and  humanitarian  motives  1 
We  Americans  should  remember  with  humility  that  the 
moral  issue  was  as  clear  when  Belgium  was  invaded  and 
the  Lusitania  sunk  as  it  was  two  years  later  when  we  took 
up  arms. 

Great  was  the  anger  in  Berlin  over  Italy's  decision. 
The  German  Chancellor  gave  vent  to  his  wrath  in  a  speech 
in  the  Reichstag  full  of  vituperation  of  the  former  ally. 
And  Salandra  replied  in  his  famous  speech  of  June  third. 
It  was  a  calm  and  reasoned  argument,  whose  statements 
were  backed  by  documentary  evidence,  introduced  by  the 


10  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

scathing  words :  "  I  am  but  a  plain  ordinary  citizen,  yet 
standing  here  in  the  capitol  representing  as  I  do  the  people 
and  the  government  of  Italy  I  feel  myself  nobler  far  than 
the  head  of  the  house  of  Hapsburg.  ...  I  could  not,  even 
if  I  would,  answer  in  kind  the  brutal  words  of  our  ac- 
cusers. Reversion  to  primitive  barbarism  is  more  diffi- 
cult for  us  who  have  twenty  centuries  of  civilization  to  the 
good." 

Germany's  anger  is  easily  understood.  There  had  been 
keen  resentment  over  Italy's  initial  refusal  to  join  the 
Central  Powers.  It  was  felt  that  her  neutrality  at  the 
outbreak  of  war,  by  releasing  the  French  forces  which 
would  otherwise  have  been  held  on  the  southern  frontier, 
was  no  insignificant  contribution  to  the  victory  on  the 
Marne  which  had  dashed  the  German  hopes  of  speedy 
triumph.  And  now,  just  when  it  would  have  been  pos- 
sible to  add  the  weight  of  the  Austrian  troops  released 
by  the  Russian  collapse  to  the  forces  on  the  western  front 
and  deliver  the  crushing  blow  in  France,  Italy's  declara- 
tion of  war  made  it  necessary  to  send  them  to  defend  the 
Italian  border. 

On  the  other  hand,  there  was  no  lack  of  appreciation 
on  the  part  of  the  allies  of  the  value  of  Italy's  decisions. 
But  no  one  seems  to  have  realized  her  potential  fighting 
power.  She  was  regarded  rather  as  a  negative  factor, 
useful  chiefly  in  holding  a  large  number  of  German  and 
Austrian  troops  engaged  on  her  front  while  the  decisive 
battles  were  being  fought  in  France.  And  this  view 
seemed  not  unreasonable.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war 
Italy's  army  numbered  less  than  300,000  men,  and  only 
a  small  fraction  of  these  could  have  been  put  in  the 
field  properly  equipped.  Her  war  chest  was  empty,  and 
her  debt  (in  proportion  to  national  wealth)  more  than 
twice  that  of  France,  more  than  three  times  that  of  Eng- 
land. She  was  dependent  on  imports  for  coal,  iron,  and 
grain,  and  was  hampered  by  inadequate  means  of  trans- 


ITALY'S  ENTRANCE  INTO  THE  WAR  11 

portation.  Quietly,  during  the  nine  months  of  neutral- 
ity, the  government  had  been  busy  bringing  the  army  to 
the  full  peace  footing  of  between  700,000  and  800,000 
men,  and  providing  it  with  proper  equipment,  and  ar- 
ranging for  the  transformation  of  industries  to  meet  the 
exigencies  of  war.  As  a  result,  Italy  had  at  or  near  her 
border  when  she  declared  war  a  good  fighting  army  of 
approximately  600,000  men.  This  might  be  adequate  for 
defence,  but  all  things  considered,  could  more  reason- 
ably be  expected  ? 

The  story  of  how  Italy,  in  spite  of  all  her  handicaps, 
mobilized  her  war  industries  and  multiplied  five  fold  their 
productivity  —  vastly  more  in  some  of  the  products,  such 
as  large-calibre  shells  and  hand-grenades  —  and  how  her 
army  steadily  grew  until  more  than  five  million  men  had 
been  called  to  the  colors  (one-seventh  of  her  entire  popula- 
tion) needs  to  be  told  to  give  a  proper  understanding  of 
the  vitality  of  modem  Italy,  and  the  earnestness  of  her 
purpose  in  the  war. 

She  had  no  idea  of  remaining  a  negative  factor.  War 
was  no  sooner  declared  than,  with  a  dash  and  daring 
that  aroused  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  the  world, 
she  took  the  offensive  and  drove  the  war  into  enemy  ter- 
ritory. Rapidly  crossing  the  strip  of  lowland  that  sepa- 
rated her  eastern  border  from  the  Isonzo  Eiver  and  cap- 
turing and  "  redeeming  "  in  the  first  few  days  of  the  war, 
Gradisca,  Cormons,  Aquileia  and  other  old  historic  Italian 
towns,  she  began  the  attack  on  the  main  Austrian  strong- 
holds along  the  Isonzo  line.  At  the  same  time,  in  the 
mountains  in  the  north  she  launched  another  offensive, 
gradually  forcing  the  enemy  back  until  she  was  within 
sight  of  Rovereto  and  well  on  the  way  toward  the  city  of 
Trent.  In  the  early  summer  of  1916  she  was  forced  to 
give  up  some  of  the  ground  thus  gained,  and  to  retire  be- 
hind her  old  lines  in  the  region  of  Asiago,  by  a  fierce 
counter  offensive  of  the  Austrians  which  cost  them  100,000 


12  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

men  and  was  brought  to  a  standstill  before  their  objective 
was  reached.  Italy  was  saved  from  invasion  from  the 
north. 

It  is  necessary  to  study  the  map  in  order  to  under- 
stand the  difficulties  Italy  had  to  surmount.  In  1866, 
after  the  Austro-Prussian  war,  Prussia,  wantonly  break- 
ing faith  with  her  Italian  ally,  saw  to  it  that  the  bound- 
ary between  Italy  and  Austria  was  drawn  so  as  to  give 
Austria  all  the  commanding  positions.  The  line  on  the 
long  eight  hundred  kilometer  border  bends  and  twists  and 
zigzags  in  and  out  with  no  other  object  in  view.  In  par- 
ticular, the  Trentino  wedge  stands  out  like  a  huge  spear- 
head pointed  at  the  industrial  heart  of  Italy,  giving 
Austria  command  of  all  the  approaches  to  Verona, 
Brescia,  and  the  rich  manufacturing  cities  of  Lombardy. 
It  is  as  if  everything  had  been  planned  by  the  Germans 
away  back  in  1866  with  a  view  to  preparing  for  an  easy 
invasion  of  Italy  from  the  north  when  the  time  was  ripe 
for  the  Huns  of  to-day  to  imitate  the  Huns  of  old  and 
pour  down  into  the  rich  Lombard  and  Venetian  plains, 
burning,  raping,   sacking,   even  as  they  had  done. 

It  was  for  Italy  literally  an  uphill  fight,  for  the  Aus- 
trians  were  always  higher  up.  Moreover,  Italy  was 
greatly  inferior  in  artillery,  having  no  large-calibre  guns, 
and  was  so  short  in  ammunition  that  she  was  compelled  to 
use  the  greatest  economy.  Every  round  must  count. 
Everyone  has  heard  of  the  skill  of  Italy's  engineers  in 
constructing  military  roads  and  building  bridges,  and  in 
devising  ways  of  conquering  the  Alps,  swinging  cannon 
and  supplies  on  steel  ropes  across  yawning  chasms  and 
over  the  tops  of  forests  to  inaccessible  mountain  crags. 
But  the  full  story  of  the  bravery  and  endurance  of  the 
hardy  Alpini  and  other  troops  in  this  incomparably  diffi- 
cult battleground  has  yet  to  be  written. 

The  bloodiest  battles  of  Italy's  war  were  fought  on 
the  eastern  front.  There  she  continued  to  hammer  the 
Austrian  fortified  positions  from  the  outbreak  of  the  war 


ITALY'S  ENTRANCE  INTO  THE  WAR  13 

until  tlie  fall  of  1917,  taking  many  of  the  enemy  strong- 
holds and  capturing  the  well  fortified  town  of  Gorizia  and 
pushing  on  in  the  south  on  the  Carso  until  within  sight 
of  Trieste.  Did  the  vision  of  that  beautiful  city  which, 
throughout  all  the  centuries  of  foreign  domination,  has 
remained  as  thoroughly  Italian  in  spirit  and  loyalty  as 
any  city  of  the  peninsula,  cast  a  spell  on  Cadorna  ?  Was 
it  sentimental  or  political  reasons  that  kept  him  strug- 
gling against  heavy  odds  on  the  Carso,  or  sent  his  brave 
troops  up  over  the  table-land  of  the  Bainsizza  beyond 
Gorizia  to  a  victory  so  dearly  bought?  To  the  north 
through  Tarvis  lay  the  old  JSTapoleonic  highway  to  Vienna. 
Between  the  Italian  trenches  on  the  Carso  and  Trieste  was 
a  succession  of  rugged  hills  strongly  fortified,  and 
strangely  defended  by  nature,  for  their  slopes  are  rocks, 
often  large  and  sharp  and  jagged  and  so  thickly  strewn 
as  to  constitute  a  barrier  more  formidable  than  continu- 
ous barbed  wire  entanglements.  And  dominating  all  was 
the  Hermada.  But  there  ahead  lay  Trieste,  the  beauti- 
ful, calling  for  deliverance  and  enticing  him  on.  There 
is  something  tragically  chivalrous  about  the  campaign  on 
the  Carso.  For  it  was  tragic  in  the  extreme.  The  Ital- 
ians lost  on  the  Carso  and  on  the  high  table-land  of  the 
Bainsizza  200,000  killed  and  500,000  wounded.  The 
objective  was  not  reached.  Trieste  was  not  to  be  set  free 
in  this  way. 

Erom  the  first  Italy  suffered  from  the  fact  that  she 
had  long  been  regarded  as  the  world's  museum  and 
pleasure-ground,  a  country  to  be  seen  and  enjoyed,  a  land 
of  color  and  song  —  instead  of  being  taken  seriously  as 
a  modem  nation,  prosaic,  hardworking,  industrial,  and 
progressive.  Even  in  her  history  it  was  always  the  pic- 
turesque episodes  that  stood  out  in  relief.  When  one 
thought  of  her  peasantry,  one  remembered  the  dashes  of 
color  and  flashing  eyes  and  the  friendly  greeting,  rather 
than  the  grime  and  the  poverty.  It  was  the  same  with 
her  soldiery.     One  did  not  think  of  the  Bersaglieri  as 


14:  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

picked  sharp-shooters  and  crack  troops  of  assault,  but 
rather  as  picturesque  soldiers  with  great  masses  of 
iridescent  black  plumes  dangling  over  the  side  of  their 
helmets  as  they  went  forward,  always  on  the  run,  to  the 
tune  of  their  stirring  Bersaglieri  march.  The  Alpini 
with  their  soft  slouch  hats,  decorated  with  a  single 
feather,  suggested  the  glories  of  sunrise  over  the  ice  fields 
above  the  clouds,  rather  than  the  sober  hardships  of 
Alpine  fighting.  And  the  boyish  looking  Arditi  with 
their  red  or  black  fez  caps  and  deliberately  neglige  uni- 
forms who  go  into  battle  armed  only  with  knife  and  hand 
grenade,  are  the  very  picture  of  dare-deviltry  in  warfare. 

And  so  from  the  distant  shores  of  America  Italy's 
part  in  the  war  was  watched  with  admiration  indeed,  but 
always  with  a  certain  detachment.  It  was  the  picturesque 
features  that  caught  the  eye:  teleferic  transport,  the  bat- 
tles in  the  clouds,  the  blowing  up  of  mountains,  or  the 
daring  exploits  of  individual  heroes.  It  was  all  somehow 
operatic  —  a  story  later  to  be  put  on  the  stage  and  sung. 
It  did  not  grip  us  at  first  as  did  the  war  in  France.  One 
did  not  seem  to  realize  that  these  episodes  were  the  high 
lights  and  that  in  Italy  too,  war  meant  the  grim  realism  of 
life  in  the  trenches  —  dirty,  uninspiring,  hideously  ugly 
and  savage  and  bloody.  Seven  hundred  thousand  lost  in 
dead  and  wounded  on  the  Carso  and  Bainsizza !  That 
single  fact  tells  the  sobering  story.  Nor  did  we  begin 
to  realize  the  extent  of  the  sacrifices  that  the  people 
behind  the  lines  were  forced  to  make  when  their  country, 
already  poor,  was  called  upon  to  support  one-seventh  of 
its  population  under  arms. 

But  Americans  living  in  Italy  were  under  no  illusions 
and  promptly  organized  for  service.  Our  Ambassador, 
Mr.  Thomas  Nelson  Page,  in  October,  1915,  called  to- 
gether a  group  of  representative  Americans  and  formed 
the  Italian  Branch  of  the  American  Relief  Clearing 
House.  For  more  than  two  years  this  was  the  only 
organized  American  relief  work  in  Italy.     Loyal  Ameri- 


ITALY'S  ENTRANCE  INTO  THE  WAR  15 

cans  resident  in  Rome,  keenly  appreciating  the  suffering 
and  needs  of  the  people  and  the  courage  with  which  they 
were  supporting  the  heavy  burdens  of  the  war  and  the 
splendid  spirit  with  which  all  classes  were  working  for 
the  common  end,  sought  the  privilege  of  cooperating  with 
the  Italians  through  this  organization  and  generously  gave 
of  their  time  and  means.  Friends  of  Italy  in  America 
contributed  money  and  supplies.  The  American  Red 
Cross  gave  assistance,  and  designated  the  Clearing  House 
as  its  representative  in  Italy. 

How  slow  America  was  in  recognizing  the  extent  of 
Italy's  needs  and  of  our  obligations  is  shown  by  the  fact 
that  the  total  sum  contributed  for  the  work  of  the  Clear- 
ing House  during  the  first  nineteen  months  of  its  activity, 
or  up  to  April  30,  1917,  was  only  $100,000.  To  this 
should  be  added  a  considerable  quantity  of  surgical  dress- 
ings and  hospital  supplies.  Slender  and  inadequate  as 
were  the  means  at  its  disposal,  their  wise  use  made  it  pos- 
sible to  relieve  much  distress  by  aiding  hospitals  at  the 
front  with  medical  supplies,  helping  the  mutilated  and 
the  families  of  soldiers  killed  in  the  war,  and  giving 
financial  assistance  to  many  Italian  relief  organizations. 

In  the  meantime,  Mrs.  Page  had  gathered  together  the 
American  women  resident  in  Rome  who,  in  her  spacious 
guest  room,  regularly  met  and  worked,  as  the  women  in 
America  were  working,  making  surgical  dressings  and  all 
kinds  of  hospital  supplies.  And  many  wives  and  widows 
of  soldiers  were  supplied  with  work  through  her  efforts. 

The  work  of  the  Clearing  House  expanded  more 
rapidly  in  1917.  When  it  dissolved  early  in  the  follow- 
ing year,  its  work  having  been  taken  over  by  the  Per- 
manent Commission  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  it  had 
distributed  the  sum  of  five  hundred  thousand  dollars,  in 
addition  to  hospital  supplies  of  twice  that  value.  But 
the  true  measure  of  the  work  done  is  not  to  be  found  in 
these  figures,  but  in  the  spirit  in  which  it  was  carried  out. 
This  was  the  first  tangible  expression  Italy  had  received 


16  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

of  America's  friendship  and  sympathy  and  it  was  ap- 
preciated as  such  by  the  Government  and  by  those  in 
charge  of  the  Italian  relief  organizations,  as  is  shown  by 
the  following  testimonial  from  the  Contessa  di  Robilant, 
wife  of  General  di  Eobilant  (one  of  the  many  received)  : 
"  These  Americans  have  had  infinite  tact  in  aiding  ns. 
They  made  it  appear  almost  as  if  it  were  not  they  who 
were  conferring  a  favor  in  giving^  but  we  in  permitting 
them  to  assist  in  relieving  the  sufferings  of  our  wounded. 
I  have  seen  them  engaged  in  their  work  and  I  shall  re- 
member with  gratitude  their  way  of  doing  things ;  so  quiet 
and  courteous  has  it  been  that  most  people  have  known 
nothing  about  it." 

The  American  Relief  Clearing  House  had  succeeded, 
not  only  in  establishing  friendly  relations  with  the  Gov- 
ernment, but  also  in  making  arrangements  concerning  rail- 
way transportation,  customs  facilities,  and  methods  of  dis- 
tribution, which  were  to  prove  of  value  to  later  commis- 
sions. 

In  the  summer  of  19  lY  the  American  Red  Cross  sent 
a  Commission  to  Italy  under  George  F.  Baker,  Jr.,  to 
investigate  conditions  and  report  to  Washington.  This 
Commission  spent  the  month  of  September  in  making  a 
survey  of  the  situation,  giving  special  attention  to  the 
hospital  needs  throughout  the  peninsula  and  to  the  condi- 
tions and  opportunities  for  assistance  to  the  army  at  the 
front.  A  committee  of  the  Clearing  House  had  just  com- 
pleted a  thorough  investigation  of  conditions  at  the  front, 
where  it  had  been  especially  impressed  with  the  possibility 
of  carrying  the  message  of  America's  friendship  directly 
to  the  soldiers  themselves,  upon  whom  the  terrible  strain 
of  continuous  life  in  the  trenches  was  beginning  to  show 
itself  in  the  increase  of  nervous  diseases  —  and  to  do  this 
by  giving  them  extra  warm  clothing  for  the  coming 
winter,  by  providing  Christmas  presents,  and  by  equipping 
their  recreation  huts.  This  appealed  favorably  to  the  Red 
Cross  Commission,  which  registered  its  approval  by  hand- 


ITALY'S  ENTRANCE  INTO  THE  WAR  17 

ing  over  to  the  Clearing  House  substantial  sums  of  money 
to  be  used  for  these  pui-poses. 

On  the  second  of  October  the  Commission  departed, 
leaving  with  Captain  G.  P.  Stevens,  as  its  representa- 
tive, a  million  lire  to  be  turned  over  to  the  Sanitd  Mili- 
tare  for  the  purchase  of  supplies  for  the  various  hospitals 
under  its  direction ;  —  and  carrying  back  to  Washington 
a  report  that  was  out  of  date  almost  before  their  vessel 
landed.  This  is  not  a  reflection  on  the  Commission,  but 
on  the  method  of  procedure.  America  had  not  yet  learned 
the  futility  of  sending  commissions  to  investigate,  and  re- 
port back  to  a  base  three  thousand  miles  away,  on  con- 
ditions that  are  likely  to  change  completely  over-night. 
Everything  is  fluent  and  new  problems  are  constantly 
arising  in  a  zone  of  war.  But  no  one  could  have  foretold 
at  the  time  that  this  Commission  sailed  that  it  was  a 
question  of  days  when  Italy  would  be  overtaken  by  a 
disaster  of  such  magnitude  that  all  plans  and  calcula- 
tions were  set  at  naught,  and  that  for  a  time  the  very 
fate  of  the  allies  hung  in  the  balance. 


CHAPTER  II 

Caporetto  —  Eef ugees  —  Ked  Cross  Emergency  Commission 

The  blow  fell  from  a  clear  sky.  It  is  true  that  there 
had  been  for  some  days  an  increase  of  activity  on  the 
upper  Isonzo,  but  there  was  nothing  particularly  alarm- 
ing in  that.  It  was  also  generally  known  that  the  enemy 
had  been  concentrating  its  forces  there  in  preparation  for 
an  attack  and  that  the  Austrians  were  reinforced  by  Ger- 
mans. But  Cadoma,  in  his  communique  of  October  24, 
speaking  of  the  heavy  bombardment  on  the  previous  day 
which  "  marked  the  beginning  of  the  expected  attack " 
could  say  "  the  onslaught  of  the  enemy  finds  us  prepared 
and  unflinching."  And  General  Giardino,  head  of  the 
War  Department,  was  equally  reassuring  in  his  speech  in 
Parliament  on  the  same  day  reviewing  the  military  situa- 
tion. "  The  enemy,"  he  said,  "  knows  that  we  are  pre- 
pared, but  he  is  on  the  lookout  to  discover  some  gap  or 
weak  point  in  our  front  in  order  to  put  a  wedge  into  it 
and  break  through. —  Let  the  attack  come,"  he  exclaimed, 
"  we  are  unafraid !  "  And  almost  as  he  spoke  the  enemy 
had  driven  the  wedge.  The  weak  spot  had  been  found. 
A  part  of  the  line  simply  caved  in.  It  was  but  a  small 
sector  of  the  long  Italian  front,  only  a  few  miles  in  ex- 
tent, but  it  was  the  strategic  position  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Caporetto.  For  when  the  line  gave  way  at  this  point, 
it  enabled  the  enemy  to  pour  down  the  JTatisone  valley 
to  Cividale,  cutting  in  behind  the  Italian  Army  from 
Caporetto  to  the  sea  and  threatening  its  capture  entire. 
It  was  later  learned  that  this  offensive  had  been  planned 
to  the  smallest  detail  by  the  Germans  and  was  conducted 

by  them  with  the  aim  of  massing  the  forces  of  the  Central 

18 


RED  CROSS  EMERGENCY  COMMISSION  19 

Powers  in  one  decisive  blow  which,  was  to  put  Italy,  once 
for  all,  out  of  the  war.  General  Cadorna's  promptness 
in  grasping  the  significance  of  the  break  and  immediately 
ordering  a  general  retreat,  the  perfect  discipline  and  order 
and  forcefulness  of  the  Third  Army,  and  the  bravery  of 
the  protective  troops,  and  particularly  the  cavalry,  whole 
regiments  of  which  gloriously  sacrificed  themselves,  frus- 
trated part  of  the  enemy's  plan.  The  bulk  of  the  army 
was  saved. 

But  the  retreat  continued  all  along  the  weary  miles 
that  separate  the  Isonzo  from  the  Piave  River,  where  a 
stand  was  finally  made.  The  army  was  saved  for  the 
time  being.  But  the  Italians  had  lost  over  300,000  men 
taken  prisoner,  4,000  large-calibre  guns,  vast  quantities  of 
stores  and  ammunition,  and  all  their  first  and  second  line 
base  hospitals;  and  the  enemy  had  overrun  Priuli,  the 
mountain  provinces  of  Carnia  and  Cadore,  and  all  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  Veneto. 

Napoleon,  long  years  before,  had  discovered  the  strate- 
gic importance  of  Caporetto.  He  wrote  in  1809  to 
Prince  Eugene,  who  was  leading  his  forces  on  this  front 
in  his  campaign  against  Austria,  warning  him  of  the  dan- 
ger of  a  break  at  that  point,  which  would  let  the  Austrians 
through  the  valley  of  the  ISTatisone  and  force  a  retreat  to 
the  Piave  which  would  then  be  the  first  adequate  line  of 
defense.  And  shortly  after  this  warning  was  sent  Austria 
did  break  through  at  Caporetto,  and  everything  happened 
exactly  as  Napoleon  had  foreseen,  and  exactly  as  it  hap- 
pened in  October,  1917,  more  than  a  hundred  years  later. 
It  is  safe  to  assume  that  the  German  strategists  knew  what 
they  were  about,  and  that  it  was  no  accident  that  the 
break  occurred  at  Caporetto. 

But  how  it  happened  that  just  at  this  point  should  have 
been  encountered  disaffected  Italian  troops,  ready  to  lay 
dowTi  their  arms  and  walk  over  to  the  enemy  when  the 
signal  was  given,  and  what  caused  the  general  disaffection 
in  the  Second  Army,  are  matters  which  have  not  yet  been 


20  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

wholly  cleared  up,  altliough  some  of  the  more  important 
contributing  factors  are  obvious,  while  it  is  equally  obvious 
that  some  of  the  sensational  stories  that  were  bandied 
about  in  Rome  at  the  time  are  without  foundation.  The 
charge  of  treason  was  freely  made.  It  was  made  in  the 
famous  "  suppressed  communiques  "  of  October  28  and 
29.  These  communiques  never  got  by  the  censor,  al- 
though what  purported  to  be  typewritten  copies  were 
freely  circulated  among  the  officers  at  the  front.  They 
were  properly  suppressed,  if  indeed  they  were  genuine,  for 
the  judgTQent  was  pronounced  in  anger.  The  matter  was 
far  from  being  so  simple.  In  seeking  an  explanation  the 
first  thing  that  is  apparent  is  that  there  were  certain  under- 
lying factors  whose  influence  was  by  no  means  confined  to 
the  men  at  the  front.  The  war  had  lasted  much  longer 
than  anyone  had  anticipated  and  had  been  growing  more 
and  more  sanguinary  and  no  apparent  progress  was  being 
made.  There  had  been  a  short  food  crop  and  the  activity 
of  submarines  in  the  Mediterranean  made  it  almost  im- 
possible to  supplement  this  by  importation.  There  had 
been  food  riots  in  Turin  in  August,  led  by  socialists 
clamoring  for  peace.  In  August  the  Pope  had  addressed 
his  peace  note  to  the  belligerent  powers,  inviting  them  to 
consider  on  what  basis  a  peace  could  be  signed.  Prom- 
inent socialist  members  of  Parliament  had  demanded  that 
the  Government  reply.  As  is  well  known,  but  not  always 
remembered,  the  Papal  Court  is  as  independent  of  the 
government  of  Italy  as  it  is  of  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  and  it  was  maintaining  a  strict  neutrality. 
The  Pope  was  therefore  no  more  to  be  criticised  for  the 
sending  of  this  note  than  was  our  own  President  for 
addressing  a  similar  one  to  the  Powers.  But  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  in  the  simple  mind  of  the  ignorant 
Italian  peasant  it  might  easily  appear  that  the  note  was 
addressed  to  him  personally  and  to  all  the  people,  rather 
than  to  the  belligerent  governments.  Peace  talk  was  in 
the  air,  and  the  longing  for  peace  in  everyone's  heart. 


RED  CROSS  EMERGENCY  COMMISSION  21 

Socialists  had  taken  as  their  slogan,  "  There  shall  be  no 
third  winter  in  the  trenches."  All  of  these  influences 
were  having  their  effect  with  the  soldiers  at  the  front. 
Then  again  there  were  other  influences  more  directly 
affecting  the  soldier.  His  rations  which  in  1916  had  been 
TOO  grams  of  bread  and  350  grams  of  meat  had  been  in 
191T  reduced  to  400  grams  of  bread  a  day  and  200  grams 
of  meat  twice  a  week,  with  salt  fish,  sardines  or  vegetables 
on  the  other  days.  For  a  time  coffee  and  sugar  gave  out 
and  he  had  for  breakfast  five  dried  figs  or  five  chestnuts. 
x\nxiety  for  the  folks  at  home  was  certainly  another  in- 
fluence, for  the  Italian,  though  much  of  an  individualist, 
is  intensely  devoted  to  his  family.  Besides,  the  Italian 
soldier  was  given  but  one  leave  a  year,  and  that  for  fifteen 
days,  most  of  which  had  to  be  consumed  in  transit.  And 
these  men  of  the  Second  Army  who  threw  down  their 
arms,  had  been  kept  in  the  front  line  trenches  for  six 
weeks  without  respite.  It  was  almost  more  than  human 
nature  could  endure.  They  were  thoroughly  fed  up  on  the 
war  and  thought  and  dreamed  of  nothing  but  peace.  And 
finally  there  was  the  direct  Austrian  propaganda,  which 
was  well  planned  to  strengthen  and  reinforce  these  other 
influences.  Leaflets  were  dropped  over  the  trenches  in 
which  the  Italians  were  told  that  the  Austrians  them- 
selves were  sick  of  the  war  and  longing  for  peace,  that 
they  were  friends,  and  that  peace  would  come  if  they 
only  came  together  and  threw  down  their  arms  and  re- 
fused to  fight.  It  was  the  old  familiar  argument  for 
non-resistance  which  we  used  to  hear  in  America  —  it 
takes  two  to  make  a  quarrel,  one  nation  or  one  man  can- 
not fight  alone.  In  the  trenches  also  suddenly  appeared 
post-cards  with  a  picture  of  Christ  and  bearing  beneath 
the  legend :  "  Why  so  much  bloodshed  ?  Think  of  your 
untilled  fields  and  your  desolate  homes."  And  so  the 
Austrians  and  Italians  exchanged  messages  and  frater- 
nized. And  the  day  was  set  for  the  inauguration  of 
peace.     When  the  hour  arrived  and  the   Italians  went 


22  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

fortli  to  meet  friends,  they  were  greeted  by  a  withering 
fire  from  German  troops  that  had  been  substituted  for  the 
friendly  Austrians. 

Thus  the  gap  was  found  and  through  it  Mackensen's 
troops  rushed,  capturing  a  small  army  of  prisoners,  and 
on  tlirough  the  valley  of  the  Natisone  close  on  the  heels 
of  the  fleeing  remnant  of  the  Second  Army,  which  was 
now  in  full  rout.  Some  of  the  soldiers  threw  away  their 
guns  as  they  ran,  and  sang  and  shouted  "  Peace !  We  are 
going  home.  The  war  is  over.  One  man  can't  fight 
alone."  Others  cursed.  Here  were  ofiicers  rallying  their 
soldiers  and  bravely  turning  in  their  tracks  in  the  vain 
attempt  to  check  the  oncoming  forces  of  the  enemy.  Here 
were  others,  wolves  in  sheep's  clothing,  Austrians  and 
Germans  disguised  in  Italian  uniforms,  giving  contrary 
orders.  Great  was  the  confusion.  How  was  one  to  know 
whom  to  believe  ? 

But  it  would  be  an  unpardonable  mistake  to  represent 
the  Austrian  victory  as  having  been  won  without  re- 
sistance. The  official  figures  give  the  Italian  losses  of 
Caporetto  as  30,000  killed  and  70,000  wounded.  The 
cave-in  occurred  on  a  small  part  of  the  line.  The  bulk 
of  the  army  fought  bravely,  as  these  figures  show,  and 
took  its  heavy  toll  in  Austrian  lives. 

Word  of  the  disaster  flew  on  ahead.  The  great  head- 
quarters at  Udine  were  abandoned  on  the  28th.  And  then 
the  greatest  horrors  of  the  retreat  began.  The  civil 
population  of  farms  and  villages,  seeing  the  retreating 
troops  and  hearing  the  booming  of  the  cannon  of  the  pur- 
suing enemy  were  thrown  into  a  panic  and,  abandoning 
all  they  possessed,  rushed  to  join  the  moving  throng  that 
congested  the  highways.  Mindful  perhaps  of  the  fate  of 
the  Belgians,  they  fled  to  escape  a  similar  rule  of  terror. 
They  fled  as  they  were.  There  was  no  time  to  collect 
household  goods,  clothing,  food,  or  money.  Mothers  tak- 
ing their  babes  in  their  arms  or  carrying  them  in  baskets 
on  their  backs,  started  on  the  weary  journey  that  led  they 


RED  CROSS  EMERGENCY  COMMISSION  93 

knew  not  whither, —  only  that  it  was  away  from  the 
dreaded  invader.  And  many  hastily  snatched  up  a  few 
prized  possessions,  only  to  find  themselves  later  carefully 
lugging  such  foolish  things  as  people  seize  as  they  run  away 
from  a  house  on  fire.  The  absurd  and  the  tragic  walk  ever 
hand  in  hand.  Here  was  an  old  woman  carrying  a  pet 
goose ;  there  was  a  mother  with  her  eleven  children  roped 
together  —  a  wise  precaution,  for  many  families  were 
separated  in  the  flight.  The  terrible  experiences  of  those 
days  and  nights  beggar  description.  Eain  added  to  the 
horrors.  To  this  day  the  men  who  went  through  it  all 
cannot  tell  the  story  without  being  overcome  with  emotion. 

There  were  other  tragedies  of  the  retreat  besides  those 
affecting  the  civil  population.  Some  of  the  soldiers  had 
th^o^vn  away  their  guns  in  the  flight  before  the  enemy,  an 
unpardonable  offense  in  a  soldier.  These  were  caught  at 
the  bridge  crossings.  And  more  than  once,  in  the  early 
dawn,  regiments  were  drawn  up  on  three  sides  of  a  hollow 
square  as  these  unfortunates  were  led  out  before  them  to 
face  the  firing  squad.  There  was  nothing  heroic  in  their 
last  moments.  They  did  not  go  to  their  death  with  head 
erect  and  defiant,  but  cowering  and  weeping  and  sadly  be- 
wildered. It  was  too  much  for  their  simple  minds  to  take 
in.  It  was  just  a  horrible  ending  to  the  sweet  dream  of 
peace,  which  had  begun  with  a  song  in  the  distant  moun- 
tain valleys.  In  truth,  they  were  neither  traitors  nor 
cowards  —  merely  victims  of  a  fair  but  fatal  illusion. 
Stem  measures!  But, —  e  la  guerra.  Stern  measures 
were  necessary  to  bring  order  out  of  the  chaos  of  those 
terrible  days.  As  a  result,  discipline  was  restored,  the 
rout  became  an  orderly  retreat  before  the  Piave  was 
crossed.     And  there  the  army  made  a  stand  and  held. 

The  Piave  is  not  a  formidable  barrier.  And  that  an 
army  demoralized  by  a  smashing  defeat,  and  crippled 
by  enormous  losses  of  men  and  guns  and  ammunition, 
suffering  from  hunger  and  cold,  and  weary  from  many 
days  of  forced  marches  through  mud  and  rain,  should 


24  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

have  been  brought  to  order,  should  have  rallied  and  held 
the  superior  forces  of  an  enemy  flushed  with  victory,  is 
little  short  of  marvelous.  One  of  the  most  glorious  pages 
in  Italy's  history  was  written  on  the  banks  of  the  Piave 
in  those  early  days  of  JSTovember. 

But  now  Italy,  her  resources  already  taxed  almost  to 
the  breaking  point,  was  called  upon  to  bear  an  additional 
burden  of  colossal  proportions  in  caring  for  not  far  from 
half  a  million  old  men,  women  and  children,  suddenly 
rendered  homeless  and  penniless  by  the  Caporetto  de- 
feat.^ The  plight  of  these  refugees  was  pitiable  in  the 
extreme  when  they  finally  found  their  way  to  the  railroad 
stations.  And  yet  their  trials  were  only  beginning.  Still 
hungry,  cold,  and  footsore,  they  were  crowded  into  cattle 
cars  as  fast  as  these  could  be  found  (troop  trains  they 
are  called  by  courtesy)  and  started  on  the  weary  journey 
for  unknown  destinations. —  For  the  Government  took 
prompt  measures  to  distribute  them  throughout  all  the 
provinces  of  Italy. —  And  sometimes  they  traveled  thus 
for  ten  days  or  two  weeks,  men,  women,  and  children,  and 
of  all  classes,  closely  packed,  scarcely  setting  foot  to  earth, 
endlessly  side-tracked  to  make  way  for  train  after  train 
of  soldiers  and  supplies  hurrying  north  to  the  battle  front 
on  the  Piave.  What  they  endured  and  the  condition  in 
which  they  arrived  can  better  be  imagined  than  described. 
And  there  was  no  welcome  awaiting  them.  They  found 
themselves  among  strangers,  often  speaking  a  different 
dialect,  by  whom  they  were  regarded  almost  as  foreigners, 
whose  presence  even  was  sometimes  resented  —  so  many 
more  mouths  to  feed  in  a  hungry  land.  Why  couldn't 
they  have  remained  at  home?  And  then  they  had  to  be 
housed  in  whatever  shelters  could  be  found  —  in  barracks, 

1  The  official  figures  give  the  total  number  of  Caporetto  refugees  as 
426,765  distributed  as  follows: 

From  the  invaded  territory 208,213 

From  territory  cleared  for  new  fighting  area 87,552 

From  territory  brought  in  danger  of  constant  air  raids.  .     131,000 


RED  CROSS  EMERGENCY  COMMISSION  25 

deserted  factories  or  requisitioned  totels  or  villas,  always 
crowded,  and  promiscuously  herded  together.  And  worst 
of  all,  they  had  nothing  to  do.  All  their  old  ties  were 
broken,  their  occupations  gone.  Their  enforced  idleness 
was  a  menace  to  themselves  as  well  as  to  the  community  in 
which  they  were  settled.  The  Government  subsidy,  of 
necessity  meagre,  barely  sufficed  to  keep  body  and  soul 
together. 

The  Government,  the  various  civil  relief  societies  and 
especially  the  Italian  Eed  Cross,  rose  to  the  occasion  and 
did  great  work,  and  the  people,  once  they  had  recovered 
from  the  shock  and  indignation  caused  by  the  first  report 
of  the  disaster,  gave  generously.  But  many  of  the  things 
imperatively  needed,  and  needed  at  once,  could  not  be  had 
in  Italy  for  love  or  money.  Karely  has  a  nation  been 
more  in  need  or  more  deserving  of  help.  Help  must  be 
given,  not  merely  as  a  humanitarian  measure,  but  also, 
and  chiefly,  as  a  war  measure.  Imagine  the  discouraging 
effect  on  a  community,  perhaps  already  somewhat  dis- 
affected towards  the  war,  of  the  sudden  appearance  in  its 
midst  of  thousands  of  these  tragic  visitors,  with  their  tales 
of  woe  and  defeat,  and  with  nothing  to  do  but  talk  of  their 
troubles. 

When  the  first  news  of  the  disaster  reached  Rome,  our 
Ambassador,  Mr.  Page,  promptly  grasping  its  significance 
cabled  to  Washington  and  Paris  for  help.  The  response 
was  immediate.  The  War  Council  of  the  Red  Cross  ^ 
placed  at  his  disposal  $250,000  for  most  pressing  needs; 
and  an  Emergency  Commission  under  Major  Carl  Taylor 
was  dispatched  from  France.  The  feeling  in  Rome  at  the 
time  is  shown  in  the  brief  telegram  at  once  sent  back  to 
Paris :  "  The  most  pressing  emergency  of  the  war  is  here 
in  Italy.  All  forms  medical  and  hospital  supplies  much 
needed.     Refugee  problem  very  great."     On  November 

1  Whenever  throughout  this  book  the  words  "  the  Red  Cross  "  ap- 
pear without  further  qualification  the  American  Red  Cross  is  meant, 
—  a  usage  adopted  for  brevity's  sake. 


26  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

4,  the  papers  printed  a  message  received  from  the  Red 
Cross  Headquarters  at  Washington  announcing  the  inten- 
tion to  send  immediately  a  permanent  commission,  and 
conveying  assurance  to  the  people  of  Italy  that  nothing 
that  could  be  done  would  be  left  undone  to  assure  them 
"  in  their  present  sacrifice  and  heroism  of  the  cordial  and 
continued  support  in  every  possible  v^ay  of  the  American 
people."  A  telegram  was  sent  to  Paris  asking  for  the  sup- 
plies most  urgently  needed  and  within  thirty-six  hours 
after  its  receipt  twenty-four  cars  were  loaded  and  ready  to 
leave,  though  the  departure  of  the  train  was  delayed  a  few 
days  by  the  congestion  of  traffic.  When  once  it  left,  per- 
sonally conducted  by  a  Red  Cross  representative,  it  got 
through,  in  spite  of  all  difficulties,  in  record  time. 

For  relief  work  outside  of  Rome  the  services  of  the 
American  Consuls  were  immediately  enlisted.  They  be- 
came, in  fact,  the  pioneer  relief  workers  of  the  Red  Cross 
in  their  districts.  The  day  of  its  arrival  in  Rome  the 
Commission  had  telegraphed  to  them  for  information  as  to 
the  number  and  condition  of  refugees,  and  had  sent  money 
to  those  in  cities  which  were  known  to  have  pressing  needs. 
Their  prompt  response  and  the  detailed  information  which 
they  sent  in  enabled  the  Commission  to  give  efficient  aid  at 
once  throughout  Italy. 

The  relief  work  naturally  took  different  forms  in  dif- 
ferent districts.  The  Consul  at  Venice  finding  that  the 
station  canteen  at  Mestre,  which  had  been  giving  food 
and  help  to  refugees  and  wounded  soldiers,  was  about  to 
cease  operations  for  lack  of  funds,  arranged  for  its  con- 
tinuance under  the  American  flag.  Venice  had  been 
brought,  by  the  establishment  of  the  new  line,  dangerously 
near  the  enemy  guns  and  was  exposed  to  constant  raids. 
The  people  were  leaving  as  fast  as  means  of  transportation 
could  be  found,  and,  as  a  first  step  in  cooperating  in  an 
orderly  evacuation,  he  opened  a  Red  Cross  canteen  at 
Chioggia. 

The  Consul  at  Milan  reported  the  most  urgent  need  to 


RED  CROSS  EMERGENCY  COMMISSION  27 

be  the  housing  of  refugees.  He  organized  an  active  Red 
Cross  Committee,  made  up  of  prominent  business  men 
resident  in  that  city,  and  a  club  house  was  promptly 
turned  into  an  infirmary  and  home  for  refugee  women  and 
children.  A  public  kitchen  was  opened  for  refugees,  and 
plans  were  made  for  a  canteen  and  rest  house  at  the 
station. 

The  Consul  at  Genoa,  working  with  a  similar  committee 
of  Americans  there,  erected  a  chalet  at  the  station,  which 
was  used  first  for  the  service  of  refugees,  afterwards  for 
that  of  troops  in  transit.  Other  Consuls  organized  the 
distribution  of  clothing  and  food. 

Italian  institutions  for  the  aid  of  refugees  were  assisted 
with  gifts  of  money,  and  the  sum  of  a  million  lire  was 
given  to  the  Comitato  Romayio  Organizzazione  Civile, 
which  had  been  most  effectively  carrying  on  relief  work 
for  soldiers'  families  and  was  proposing  to  bring  refugee 
families  within  the  scope  of  its  activities.  During  the 
month  of  l^ovember  the  sum  of  460,835  lire  was  placed  in 
the  hands  of  Consuls,  either  for  their  direct  use,  or  for 
transmission  to  local  agencies,  for  relief  work  with  refu- 
gees. 

When  the  first  call  for  help  had  come  the  American 
Relief  Clearing  House  had  emptied  its  warehouse  and 
treasury,  giving  all  that  it  had.  It  then  turned  its  offices 
over  to  the  Emergency  Commission  and  offered  to  put  its 
organization  under  its  direction.  Many  of  the  members 
assisted  the  Commission  in  its  investigations  and  not  a 
few  from  that  time  onward  became  permanently  associated 
with  the  Red  Cross  in  Italy.  Meantime,  the  Clearing 
House  became  the  agent  of  the  Red  Cross  in  the  Roman 
District,  much  as  the  local  committees  of  Americans  in 
Milan  and  Genoa  were  in  their  communities,  and  it  was 
given  one  hundred  thousand  lire  at  once  for  the  purchase 
of  food  and  blankets  for  refugee  relief  work  in  the  stations 
at  Rome.  As  an  illustration  of  the  work  it  did,  let  one 
instance  suffice.     One  afternoon  at  four  o'clock,  word  was 


28  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

received  that  12,000  refugees  would  pass  through  the 
Portonaccio  Station,  a  few  miles  out  on  the  Koman 
Campagna,  the  first  train  arriving  at  six.  Within  an  hour 
they  had  the  baggage  car  on  the  northbound  Florence  ex- 
press loaded  with  supplies, —  hams,  sausages,  chocolate, 
and  blankets,  and  thus  had  them  at  the  Portonaccio  Station 
before  the  arrival  of  the  first  refugee  train. 

One  of  the  most  serious  losses  sustained  in  the  retreat 
was  that  of  hospitals  and  hospital  supplies.  Not  antici- 
pating any  break,  the  hospitals  had  been  put  well  towards 
the  front.  More  than  one  hundred  were  lost  and,  in  addi- 
tion, two  principal  magazines  of  supplies,  considerably 
more  than  one-third  of  the  entire  medical  equipment  of  the 
war  zone.  By  drawing  on  its  warehouse  in  France,  as 
well  as  by  purchase  in  Italy,  the  Red  Cross  was  able  to 
deliver  many  thousands  of  articles  for  hospital  use. 
There  were  already  in  existence  many  workrooms  for  the 
making  of  surgical  dressings  and  these  were  given  back- 
ing, which  enabled  them  greatly  to  increase  their  output. 
Seven  hundred  and  fifty  tons  of  hospital  supplies  were 
ordered  from  America  for  immediate  delivery,  including 
such  items  as  250  pounds  of  quinine,  15  tons  of  chloro- 
form and  25  tons  of  ether,  and  all  sorts  of  surgical  in- 
struments,—  all  articles  which  were  greatly  needed  and 
not  to  be  procured  in  Italy.  Plans  were  made  for  the  gift 
of  ten  complete  field  hospitals  of  fifty  beds  each,  with  an 
overload  capacity  running  as  high  as  350. 

Five  weeks  after  the  Red  Cross  Commission  reached 
Rome,  it  was  able  to  turn  over  to  the  Third  Army,  three 
complete  ambulance  sections,  each  section  being  made  up 
of  twenty  ambulances,  a  staff  car,  a  kitchen  trailer,  a  motor 
cycle  and  two  camions.  Each  section  comprised  thirty- 
three  men,  Americans  who  had  seen  service  in  France  and 
who  came  as  volunteers.  Fifty  of  the  ambulances  of  this 
service  were  given  by  the  American  Poets'  Ambulance 
Committee,  which  had  made  a  still  earlier  gift  of  the  same 


RED  CROSS  EMERGENCY  COMMISSION  29 

number  to  the  Italian  Army.  In  a  picturesque  courtyard 
of  an  old  Milan  palace,  gaily  decked  with  crossed  Italian 
and  American  flags,  the  formal  presentation  took  place  in 
the  presence  of  a  representative  group  of  important  civil 
and  military  authorities.  The  cars  were  arranged  in  the 
shape  of  a  horseshoe,  and  in  front,  one  hundred  mem- 
bers of  the  Red  Cross  Ambulance  Corps  for  Italy,  in 
khaki,  stood  at  salute  as  the  bugle  sounded  and  the  Gen- 
eral, sent  to  receive  them  in  the  name  of  the  Third 
Army,  swung  into  the  yard  with  his  bodyguard  of  Ber- 
saglieri.  Shortly  afterwards  the  first  section  left  the 
yard  with  American  flags  flying  and  drew  up  for  a  few 
moments  in  front  of  the  famous  old  Gothic  cathedral, 
where  the  Mayor  of  Milan  bade  them  farewell,  and  then 
started  off  for  the  battlefront,  amidst  the  cheers  of  the 
people. 

Only  a  few  days  before,  America  had  declared  war  on 
Austria.  The  enthusiasm  with  which  that  news  was  re- 
ceived in  Italy  was  unbounded.  It  had  come  just  at  the 
opportune  time,  when  the  depressing  effects  of  the  great 
defeat  were  beginning  to  show  most  in  the  remoter  districts, 
and  did  much  to  counteract  them  and  give  the  people  re- 
newed confidence  in  the  justice  of  their  cause  and  in  its 
inevitable  triumph.  There  was  a  stirring  demonstration 
in  Rome,  where  the  crowd  packed  the  square  in  front  of 
the  American  Embassy  and  all  the  streets  leading  up  to 
it.  They  had  brought  with  them  three  wounded  soldiers, 
who  were  lifted  from  their  carriage  to  the  Embassy  steps, 
and  when  our  Ambassador,  who  had  endeared  himself  to 
the  people  by  his  simplicity  and  friendliness,  appeared 
beside  them  and  in  a  brief  speech  defined  our  common 
ideals  and  pledged  America's  full  support,  he  was  given 
a  memorable  ovation,  which  was  an  evidence  at  once  of 
the  loyalty  of  the  people  and  of  their  belief  in  America. 
And  to  the  crowd  in  Milan,  following  and  cheering  our 
Ambulance  Section  as  it  started  for  the  front,  these  young 


30  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

men  in  khaki,  the  first  Americans  to  go  into  action  in 
Italy,  were  the  visible  evidence  of  the  reality  of  America's 
war  with  i\ustria. 

A  beginning  was  also  made  by  the  Emergency  Com- 
mission in  the  work  for  the  comfort  and  recreation  of  the 
soldiers,  by  means  of  canteens  for  the  men  on  the  way  to 
and  from  the  front,  and  by  means  of  gifts  to  the  men  in 
the  trenches.  But,  to  the  three  members  of  the  Com- 
mission who  went  over  Italy  making  a  rapid  survey  of 
conditions  and  carrying  with  them  half  a  million  lire  to 
enable  them  to  give  immediate  aid  whenever  and  wherever 
they  discovered  most  crying  needs,  what  made  the  deepest 
and  most  lasting  impression  was  "  the  magnitude,  the 
seriousness  and  the  heartrending  tragedy  of  the  refugee 
problem."  The  chief  efforts  of  the  Emergency  Commis- 
sion were  directed  towards  giving  aid  in  the  solution  of 
this  problem. 

The  first  rush  of  refugees  was  over  in  early  December, 
and  the  problem  of  aiding  them  in  transit  gave  way  to  the 
more  difficult  problems  of  relief  in  the  places  of  settle- 
ment,—  helping  to  restore  some  semblance  of  normal  con- 
ditions. These  covered  the  primary  necessities  of  clothing 
and  food,  the  improvement  of  housing  conditions  and  the 
providing  of  employment.  Assistance  was  given  in  all  of 
these  directions.  The  Red  Cross  also  made  substantial 
contributions  to  Italian  organizations  and  individuals 
undertaking  the  care  of  refugee  children.  Thus  funds 
were  given  to  the  granddaughter  of  Garibaldi  to  open  a 
day  nursery  for  them  in  Eome,  and  to  the  daughter  of 
Lombroso  for  a  home  for  refugee  orphans  in  Turin. 

Through  the  American  Consul  at  Venice,  the  Red  Cross 
cooperated  with  the  local  authorities  in  their  plans  for  the 
orderly  evacuation  of  that  city.  Many  thousands  of 
Venetian  colonists  were  transferred  to  the  towns  along  the 
Adriatic,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Rimini,  and  housed  in 
summer  villas  requisitioned  for  the  purpose.  These  were 
kept  as  far  as  possible  in  industrial  units  and  the  equip- 


RED  CROSS  EMERGENCY  COMMISSION  31 

ment  of  the  shops  in  which  they  had  worked  was  fre- 
quently transferred  with  them.  For  the  benefit  of  these 
colonists,  the  Red  Cross  established  a  hospital  in  Rimini. 

For  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  Red  Cross,  warehouses 
with  a  total  capacity  of  fifty  thousand  tons  were  secured 
in  Rome,  in  the  ports  of  entry,  Genoa  and  Naples,  and  in 
certain  central  points  of  distribution.  Orders  were  placed 
for  three  million  lire  worth  of  supplies  in  Italy ;  shipping 
space  for  fifteen  thousand  tons  was  engaged  in  boats  sail- 
ing from  ISTew  York  prior  to  January  first;  and  three 
hundred  tons  of  food  supplies  were  started  on  the  way 
from  Paris. 

The  aid  which  the  Red  Cross  gave  during  its  first  seven 
weeks  in  Italy  was  various,  scattering,  and  immediate. 
It  was  given  at  a  time  when  it  was  necessary  to  strike  at 
once  and  strike  hard.  And  that  is  what  was  done.  The 
French  and  English  had  been  able  to  hurry  troops  to  Italy, 
which  had  established  a  second  line  defense,  in  case  the 
Piave  line  should  not  hold.  We  were  not  in  a  position 
to  assist  in  that  way.  We  came  through  our  Army  of 
Mercy  —  but  we  came. 

One  has  nothing  but  admiration  for  the  promptness  and 
efiiciency  with  which  Italy  took  hold  of  her  refugee  prob- 
lem, dispersing  hundreds  of  thousands  of  homeless  citizens 
throughout  Italy  with  a  minimum  of  delay  in  spite  of  in- 
adequate railroad  facilities  which  were  already  congested 
by  legitimate  needs  of  war;  for  the  systematic  assistance 
given  them  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  their  long 
and  painful  journey,  and  for  the  arrangements  made  for 
incorporating  them  into  the  communities  to  which  they 
were  transferred.  Equally  deserving  of  admiration  was 
the  assistance  given  by  the  Italian  Red  Cross,  the  various 
civil  welfare  committees,  the  special  committees  for 
refugees,  as  well  as  the  charitable  organizations  such  as 
the  UmanUaria  of  Milan.  The  American  Red  Cross  was 
one  agency  of  relief  amongst  others.  It  is  hard  to 
enumerate  the  things  that  it  did  without  seeming  to  ex- 


32  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

aggerate  their  importance.  It  was  all  little  enough  in 
comparison  with  what  Italy  herself  was  doing.  But  the 
moral  effect  of  the  work  of  the  Red  Cross  was  out  of  all 
proportion  to  its  relative  amount.  It  was  for  the  people 
of  Italy  the  immediate  concrete  evidence  of  the  support  of 
America.  What  that  meant  is  shown  by  a  simple  little 
incident  of  the  trip  of  our  ambulance  men,  when,  after 
their  long  journey  to  Italy  by  way  of  Marseilles,  they  first 
reached  Italian  soil.  After  crossing  the  border  they 
stopped  and  the  Chief  of  the  section  descended  from  his 
car.  An  old  peasant  woman  rushed  up  to  him,  and,  be- 
fore he  could  stop  her,  fell  on  her  knees  and  caught  his 
hand  and  kissed  it,  exclaiming,  "  Thank  God,  America 
has  come !  " 

And  that,  in  brief,  is  what  the  work  of  the  Red  Cross 
meant :  it  was  palpable  evidence  of  America's  presence,  of 
her  friendship,  and  of  the  earnestness  of  her  purpose  in 
the  war.  The  Italian  people  believed  in  America,  in  her 
sense  of  justice,  in  her  strength,  in  her  unlimited  re- 
sources, and  many  there  were  who  said  in  that  hour  of  need 
when  the  Red  Cross  worker  appeared,  "  Thank  God, 
America  has  come !  " 


--■SRS??*-; 


CHAPTER  III 

Arrival  of  Permanent  Commission  —  Campidoglio  meeting  — 
Plans  and  Ideals  —  Organization  —  Civilian  Relief  and  the 
"  Inner  Front " 

The  Permanent  Commission  of  the  Red  Cross,  under 
Colonel  Perkins,  consisting  of  thirtj-one  persons  in  all, 
arrived  in  Rome  on  the  20th  of  December,  1917.  Making 
themselves  familiar  as  rapidly  as  possible  with  what  had 
already  been  done,  the  new  men  began  to  assume  their 
accustomed  duties  as,  one  by  one,  the  men  from  France 
hurried  back.  Major  Taylor,  who  had  been  Acting  Com- 
missioner of  the  temporary  organization,  upon  whom  de- 
volved the  chief  responsibility  for  the  extensive  emergency 
relief  work  which  it  had  undertaken,  and  Colonel  Bicknell 
stayed  on  for  some  weeks  in  order  to  facilitate  the  merg- 
ing of  the  old  commission  into  the  new,  or,  as  it  came  to 
be  officially  known,  the  Permanent  Commission,  and  in 
order  to  give  its  members  time  to  get  their  bearings  and 
make  their  plans. 

Officially  the  history  of  the  Permanent  Commission  be- 
gins on  the  first  of  January,  1918,  but  should  you  ask  its 
members  when  its  history  starts,  the  date  that  stands  out 
vividly  in  their  memory  is  the  day  of  the  inaugural  cere- 
mony, just  two  weeks  later,  in  the  Senate  Chamber  in  the 
ancient  Campidoglio  on  the  Capitoline  Hill.  Here  were 
gathered  ministers  of  state,  senators,  deputies,  members 
of  the  Diplomatic  Corps,  all  conspicuous  figures  in  the 
history  of  the  day,  crowding  the  great,  high-domed  Hall 
of  Senators,  to  join  in  the  official  welcome  of  Italy  to  the 
Permanent  Commission  of  the  American  Red  Cross  ex- 
tended by  the  Mayor  of  Rome,  Prince  Colonna,  and  by 

33 


34  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

Deputy  Nitti,  Minister  of  the  Treasury,  and  Senator 
Marconi  of  wireless  fame.  On  a  small  platform  in  seven 
gilt  chairs  sat  the  men  whom  the  others  had  come  to  see 
and  hear,  and  standing  behind  them  in  their  khaki  uni- 
forms were  officers  of  the  Red  Cross.  High  above  hung 
many  flags,  banners  of  the  Gonfalonieri,  and  all  around, 
filling  the  amphitheatre,  were  distinguished  men  and 
women  who  responded  with  enthusiasm  to  every  mention  of 
America  and  every  tribute  to  the  Red  Cross.  The  thought 
that  runs  through  all  these  speeches,  variously  expressed, 
is  the  friendship  of  Italy  for  America  and  her  strengthened 
confidence  in  the  righteousness  of  her  cause  and  in  its  ulti- 
mate triumph,  due  to  America's  support.  With  America's 
entrance,  says  the  Mayor  in  effect,  the  civilized  world  was 
united  in  the  fight  for  liberty  and  the  independence  of 
peoples.  Senator  Marconi,  speaking  from  his  personal  ex- 
perience and  paying  a  lofty  tribute  to  the  idealism  and 
innate  love  of  liberty  and  fair  play  which  he  had  found 
in  America  adds,  "  The  friendship  of  America  in  this 
struggle  is  particularly  dear  to  Italy."  And  Minister 
Nitti  sums  it  up  in  this  striking  phrase :  "  In  great  crises 
it  is  not  mmibers  only  that  count,  nor  yet  mere  physical 
bravery,  but  rather  the  confidence  that  comes  from  the 
knowledge  that  our  cause  is  the  cause  of  our  friends,  and 
that,  in  serving  it,  our  hearts  are  united  with  theirs  in  de- 
votion to  common  ideals." 

The  sincere  and  spontaneous  demonstration  in  the  Hall 
of  the  Senators  that  day  was  at  once  a  tribute  to  the  work 
that  had  been  done  and  a  challenge  to  the  men  who  had 
come  to  continue  it.,  It  was  a  memorable  and  moving 
scene.  What  made  it  impressive  was  not  merely  the 
gathering  of  notables,  nor  the  warm  words  of  welcome 
and  friendship,  but  the  total  setting  in  this  historic  spot, 
the  Campidoglio,  which  in  a  way,  epitomizes  the  whole 
story  of  Italy  and  Rome,  ancient  and  modern  —  this  hill 
that  has  seen  Rome  rise  and  fall  and  rise  again,  that  has 
watched  civilizations  come  and  go.     It  was  as  if  the  hand 


ARRIVAL  OF  PERMANENT  COMMISSION  35 

of  the  past  were  reaching  out  to  take  up  the  troubles  of 
to-day  and  out  of  them  fashion  the  glories  of  to-morrow; 
as  if  a  new  birth  in  friendship  and  good  will  among  na- 
tions, based  upon  mutual  understanding  and  sealed  in  the 
service  of  common  ideals,  were  at  hand.  The  representa- 
tives of  the  Eed  Cross,  who  had  received  this  tribute  in  the 
name  of  America,  came  away  from  the  meeting  at  once  in 
an  exalted  and  in  a  chastened  frame  of  mind,  and  with  a 
clearer  vision  of  the  task  before  them.  Ideals  and  plans 
that  had  slowly  been  taking  shape,  became  defined,  prin- 
ciples plain.  It  is  in  order  to  enumerate  here  some  of 
these,  for  they  guided  the  work  of  the  Commission 
throughout  its  stay  in  Italy.  First,  the  spirit  in  which  the 
work  was  undertaken  and  carried  out  was  that  of  modesty, 
one  might  almost  say  humility.  America  had  not  come 
through  the  Red  Cross  in  a  sense  of  superiority  to  "  show 
Italy  how."  Nor  had  she  come  to  rescue  a  "  demoralized  " 
nation.  Admiring  what  Italy  had  accomplished,  and  ap- 
preciating what  she  had  endured,  the  Red  Cross  had  come 
in  simple  justice  and  in  the  spirit  of  friendship  to  help 
bear  the  heavy  burdens  of  the  war  which  Italy  had  been 
carrying  for  two  and  a  half  years  with  such  courage. 
Moreover  the  individual  members  of  the  organization  were 
simply  instruments  to  carry  out  the  will  of  the  army  of 
Red  Cross  subscribers  and  workers  at  home  —  specially 
privileged  in  having  this  opportunity  of  service.  It  mat- 
tered not  at  all  whether  Smith  or  Jones  did  the  job,  so  it 
were  done.  Name  and  fame  should  be  forgot.  The 
second  principle  that  governed  the  activity  of  the  Com- 
mission throughout  was  belief  in  Italy  and  especially  in 
the  people  of  Italy.  This  attitude  not  only  had  its  effect 
upon  the  extent  of  cooperation  with  Italians  and  Italian 
organizations,  but  also  upon  the  character  and  spirit  of 
the  work  itself  and  the  response  which  it  called  forth. 
For  it  is  as  true  in  Italy  as  it  is  in  America,  that  belief 
in  the  people  is  always  justified  of  its  fruits. 

Furthermore,  from  the  first  the  work  was  consciously 


36  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

and  deliberately  put  "upon  a  "  win  the  war  "  basis.  This 
is,  indeed,  a  characteristic  of  Red  Cross  work  which  has 
developed  in  this  war  and  considerably  changed  the  char- 
acter and  significance  of  the  Red  Cross.  Originally  it  was 
a  non-combatant  organization  for  the  relief  of  suffering, 
treating  all  alike  and  knowing  no  enemies.  One  still 
thinks  of  the  Red  Cross  as  primarily  concerned  with  re- 
lief for  the  wounded  and  the  sick  among  the  soldiers. 
This  is,  however,  nowadays  but  a  small  part  of  its  activity. 
There  are  other  wounds  besides  those  made  by  enemy  guns, 
wounds  that  reach  the  entire  civilian  population.  And 
every  soldier  at  the  front  is  linked  by  ties  of  affection  to 
those  at  home,  his  mother,  his  wife,  his  children.  Their 
wounds  are  his  wounds.  If  they  are  neglected  his  courage 
is  sapped.  In  a  word,  this  war  has  brought  into  prom- 
inence the  importance  of  what  the  Italians  call  the  "  inner 
front"  (il  fronte  intemo).  The  army  is  the  nation,  not 
merely  the  men  in  the  trenches,  and  the  work  of  the  Red 
Cross  must  be  correspondingly  extended.  It  is  its  task  to 
heal  the  wounds  on  the  "  inner  front."  And  here,  as  with 
the  soldier,  the  wounds  may  be  of  the  spirit  as  well  as  of  the 
body.  This  measures  the  responsibility  which  the  Com- 
mission undertook.  It  was  necessary  for  the  Red  Cross 
to  go  forth  to  all  parts  of  Italy  with  healing  on  its  wings, 
relieving  war  suffering  and  strengthening  the  courage  of 
the  civilian  population  by  spreading  the  knowledge  of 
America's  presence  and  determination  and  readiness  to 
help  to  the  limit  of  her  resources,  and  putting  new  heart 
into  them  by  making  them  realize  that  a  friend  stood  ever 
at  their  side. 

It  was  a  big  undertaking.  Obviously  the  first  thing 
necessary  was  to  recruit  a  force  to  carry  it  through,  and 
that  at  once.  The  Commission  set  out  to  enlist  the  serv- 
ices of  available  Americans  who  were  on  the  ground, 
artists,  connoisseurs  and  dilettanti,  and  men  and  women 
of  leisure  who  had  made  Italy  their  home,  Americans  mar- 
ried to  Italians,  travellers  caught  and  held  by  the  war, — -- 


ARRIVAL  OF  PERMANENT  COMMISSION  37 

here  a  professor  of  Logic  from  a  Western  University,  there 
a  chorus  girl  who  had  sung  in  a  popular  light  opera,  here 
a  well  known  impresario,  there  a  singer  who  as  Carmen 
or  A'ida  had  delighted  audiences  at  the  Metropolitan,  etc., 
etc.,  and  large  drafts  were  made  on  the  students  and  teach- 
ing force  of  the  American  Academy  at  Rome.  It  was,  in- 
deed, a  motley  company,  but  united  in  devotion  and  good 
will.  So  the  organization  grew  by  leaps  and  bounds,  keep- 
ing pace  with  the  rapidly  growing  work.  The  few  rooms 
kindly  given  by  the  Banca  C ommerciale  were  soon  out- 
grown and  headquarters  established  in  a  commodious 
building  on  Via  Sicilia,  formerly  used  as  a  pension  much 
frequented  by  Americans.  The  Red  Cross  was  hardly 
established  in  its  new  quarters  before  they  were  outgrown, 
and  a  large  building  next  door,  once  a  Russian  Club,  was 
annexed.  The  same  story  was  repeated  here.  The  Red 
Cross  then  took  over  a  Hotel  on  Via  Sardegna  whose 
seven  floors  seemed  ample  for  any  contingency,  but  were 
already  proving  inadequate  when  the  Armistice  put  an  end 
to  further  expansion.  In  the  meantime  the  number  of 
Red  Cross  workers  had  grown  from  32  to  949,  not  in- 
cluding the  Italians  enrolled,  approximately  1000  more. 
It  should  be  added,  however,  to  show  the  difficulties  which 
the  Conunission  had  to  face,  that  it  was  more  than  six 
months  before  the  force  of  trained  bookkeepers,  account- 
ants, stenographers,  etc.,  was  adequate  to  needs. 

The  work  was  organized  with  the  usual  triple  division 
into  Civil  Affairs,  Military  Affairs,  and  Medical  Affairs. 
Back  of  these  was  the  Department  of  Administration. 
Each  of  these  departments  was  under  a  Deputy  Commis- 
.'oner.  The  Department  of  Administration  included 
Stores,  and  Transportation,  Purchasing,  Accounting,  and 
Public  "nformation,  each  of  these  divisions  having  its 
separate  responsible  Director.  In  the  early  fall,  with  the 
arrival  of  the  Tuberculosis  Unit,  a  Department  of  Tuber- 
culosis was  added.  For  convenience  of  administration, 
Italy  was  divided  into  a  number  of  districts,  corresponding 


38  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

more  or  less  roiigblj  with  the  political  divisions  of  the 
country:  Avellino,  Bari,  Bologna,  Florence,  Genoa, 
Iglesias  (Sardinia),  Milan,  Naples,  Padua,  Palermo, 
Eeggio  Calabria,  Rimini,  Rome,  Taormina,  Turin,  and 
Venice.  This  was  a  sort  of  Federal  system.  The  Red 
Cross  delegate  in  each  district  became  the  responsible  head 
of  the  Red  Cross  in  his  territory,  representing  all  depart- 
ments. While  he  was  under  general  control  of  the  De- 
partment of  Administration  at  Rome,  he  was  given  a  large 
amount  of  independence  —  a  plan  of  organization  which 
proved  most  effective,  expediting  action,  minimizing  red 
tape  and  encouraging  initiative. 

One  of  the  first  problems  that  had  to  be  faced  was  that 
of  the  storage  and  shipment  of  supplies  which  soon  b&- 
gan  to  arrive  in  great  quantities  from  America  —  hospital 
supplies  of  all  sorts,  food,  clothing,  and  raw  materials. 
The  goods,  arrived  at  the  port  of  entry,  were  promptly 
distributed  to  warehouses  and  branch  depositories  through- 
out Italy,  whence  they  could,  at  a  moment's  notice,  be  re- 
distributed to  any  part  of  the  country,  to  meet  emergency 
needs.  The  number  of  warehouses  grew  to  59  before  the 
war  was  over,  with  a  capacity  ample  for  all  requirements. 

Italy's  transportation  facilities  are  scarcely  adequate  in 
times  of  peace,  and  in  war,  in  spite  of  all  restrictions  on 
civilian  use,  they  were  strained  to  the  limit.  Red  Cross 
material  came  under  the  head  of  war  necessities  and  the 
Government  gave  every  assistance  possible  for  facilitating 
transportation.  It  carried  Red  Cross  supplies  (and  for 
that  matter,  personnel  as  well,  when  on  service)  free  of 
charge.  But  to  meet  the  emergency  sure  to  arise  in  times 
of  special  military  activity  with  its  increased  demands  on 
transportation  facilities,  an  automobile  freight  service  was 
established,  which  made  the  Red  Cross  independent  of  the 
railway;  a  system  of  automatic  relays  from  one  distribut- 
ing center  to  another  was  worked  out  whereby  supplies  in 
large  quantities  could  rapidly  be  concentrated  in  time  of 
need  in  the  districts  near  the  front  without  interfering 


,AyV\ERlCANREDCROSS;. 

INITALY- 

STORES 
AND 
^.^   ^      >  ^TRANSPORTATION 


An  automobile  freight  service  was  established  which  made  the 
Red  Cross  indei)tiident  of  the  railway.  The  hieroglyphics  in- 
dicate the  number  of  warehouses,  camions,  service  cars  and 
motor  cycles  at  each  center. 


ARRIVAL  OF  PERMANENT  COMMISSION  39 

witli  tlie  regular  work  of  the  Red  Cross  in  otter  parts  of 
Italy,  a  system  which,  proved  its  value  at  the  time  of  the 
great  Italian  Offensive  in  October.  The  accompanying 
map  will  tell  the  story  better  than  any  verbal  description. 
The  Temporary  Commission  had  been  chiefly  concerned 
with  the  Emergency  Relief  of  refugees.  This  work  was 
continued  by  the  Permanent  Commission  and  gradually 
merged  into  the  activities  undertaken  for  the  general  re- 
lief of  soldiers'  families.  For  some  months,  however,  after 
the  Caporetto  retreat  the  military  situation  remained  un- 
certain, and  the  Italian  government  continued  moving  the 
civilian  population  out  of  the  districts  threatened  by 
further  enemy  attacks.  This  was  an  orderly  migration  as 
compared  with  the  early  rush  of  refugees,  but  scarcely 
less  distressing.  To  alleviate  hardships  of  the  journey, 
the  Red  Cross,  in  addition  to  its  station  canteens,  estab- 
lished rest  houses  near  the  station  at  certain  transfer 
points  such  as  Bologna  and  Villa  San  Giovanni,  where 
travel-worn  women  and  children  might  refresh  themselves 
before  continuing  their  hard  journey.  The  Red  Cross 
also  aided  in  many  ways  in  making  it  possible  for  the 
refugees,  torn  from  their  familiar  occupations  and  sur- 
roundings and  transplanted  in  strange  lands,  to  take  up 
once  more  the  thread  of  life  in  conditions  as  nearly  like 
the  normal  as  possible.  It  was  necessary  that  they  should 
be  self-3upporting,  not  weakened  and  demoralized  by  a 
dangerous  dependence,  that  their  children  should  continue 
their  studies  that  had  been  interrupted  by  the  enemy 
cannon,  and  that  family  life  should  continue  unshaken. 
And  so  the  Red  Cross  established  schools  and  workshops 
and  sewing  rooms.  The  clothing  made  in  the  sewing 
rooms  was  sold  at  nominal  prices  to  the  refugees  them- 
selves or  to  the  poor  families  of  soldiers.  Where  the 
women  came  from  Venice  and  were  proficient  in  the  art 
of  lace  making,  lace  shops  were  established.  Those  skilled 
in  shoe  making,  such  as  the  peasants  from  Friuli,  were 
enabled  to  continue  the  manufacture  of  Friulian  shoes 


40  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

and  slippers.  The  quarters  to  which  the  refugees  were 
assigned  were  in  many  cases  remodelled  and  equipped  to 
make  them  suitable  for  family  life.  For  example,  at 
Chiaravalle  an  old  disused  paper  mill  was  divided  into 
apartments  by  means  of  masonry  partitions,  was  provided 
with  sanitary  arrangements  and  with  a  community  kitchen 
where  the  meals  of  all  the  refugees  were  cooked,  each  fam- 
ily being  assigned  its  particular  stove  and  floor  space.  In 
ISTaples  the  Hotel  Victoria  was  equipped  and  arranged  for 
the  same  purpose. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  refugee  colonies  was  that  at 
Leghorn,  known  as  the  Spreziano  colony.  The  entire 
town  of  Spreziano  on  the  upper  Piave,  both  inhabitants 
and  industries,  was  transplanted  bodily  300  miles  across 
Italy  and  established  in  a  group  of  unfinished  and  un- 
furnished villas  on  a  hillside  near  Leghorn.  These  villas 
had  no  conveniences  nor  furnishings  of  any  kind,  lacking 
even  chimneys  and  window  sashes.  They  were  remodelled 
and  partly  furnished  by  the  Ked  Cross.  !N^ear  by  was  a 
large  modern  chateau,  requisitioned  by  the  Government 
from  its  German  owner,  in  which  the  American  organ- 
ization established  schools  for  the  children,  workshops  and 
sewing  rooms  and  a  public  soup  kitchen.  Besides  the  ele- 
mentary school  studies,  the  older  girls  were  taught  sewing 
and  lace  making,  and  the  boys  were  apprenticed  in  near 
by  carpenter  and  blacksmith  shops.  As  shoe  making  had 
been  one  of  the  principal  industries  in  the  far  away  village 
on  the  upper  Piave,  one  of  the  first  activities  opened  here 
by  the  Red  Cross  was  a  shoe  factory,  in  which  many 
women  of  the  colony  were  employed  during  the  day,  while 
in  adjoining  rooms  their  children  attended  school. 

One  of  the  most  novel  and  certainly  the  most  extensive 
undertaking  of  the  Red  Cross  for  the  care  of  refugees 
was  the  construction  of  a  Venetian  village  under  the  walls 
of  old  Pisa.  Its  story  is  the  story  of  a  village  that  failed, 
failed  at  least  in  its  original  purpose,  through  unforeseen 
and  unavoidable  complications.     It  was  an  undertaking 


ARRIYAL  OF  PERMANENT  COMMISSION  41 

that  will  appeal  to  Americans,  not  only  because  the  idea 
back  of  it  was  big  and  generous,  but  also  because  the 
refugees  to  be  helped  were  driven  from  a  town  which  is 
especially  dear  to  them.  Venice,  it  must  be  remembered, 
had  been  brought  within  the  fighting  zone.  She  was  ex- 
posed at  all  times  to  attack  from  land  and  sea,  and  every 
moon  was  a  signal  for  a  succession  of  bombardments  from 
the  air.  Her  industries  were  shut  down,  her  shops  closed, 
communication  with  the  outside  world  was  difficult  and 
food  exceedingly  scarce. 

'Now  the  Venetian  authorities  had  from  the  beginning 
been  transplanting  the  civilian  population  to  places  of 
safety  in  colonies,  as  far  as  it  was  possible  to  do  so.  By 
keeping  them  together  and  transplanting  with  them  their 
industries,  conditions  of  life  in  a  strange  land  became  more 
tolerable.  This  plan  had  been  carried  out  quite  exten- 
sively along  the  shores  of  the  Adriatic  where  there  were 
many  empty  villas  which  could  be  requisitioned  for  the 
purpose.  And  sites  for  additional  colonies  for  refugees 
were  early  sought  in  Liguria  and  elsewhere.  But  old 
communities  have  a  limited  capacity  to  absorb  unbidden 
guests.  Also  they  differ  much  in  the  kind  of  a  recep- 
tion which  they  give  them.  For  example,  a  worker  in  the 
early  days,  writing  from  one  of  the  communities  where 
ten  thousand  refugees  had  been  established,  reported: 
"  The  surrounding  country  does  not  supply  much  and  the 
peasants  have  met  with  a  most  resentful  spirit  the  Gov- 
ernment's attempt  to  commandeer  their  potatoes,  beans, 
etc.  The  influx  of  this  vast  number  of  new  mouths  here 
has  caused  something  like  panic  among  the  peasants  and 
working  classes,  who  seem  to  fear  that  they  will  starve 
owing  to  this  invasion.  Any  wrong  move  would  precipi- 
tate grave  trouble."  At  the  same  time  in  another  town 
the  situation  was  reported  as  most  satisfactory :  "  There 
is  an  exceedingly  patriotic  spirit  here  among  the  better 
families,  and  although  the  town  is  not  large  nor  wealthy, 
they  have  organized  their  relief  work  to  meet  the  sudden 


42  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

crisis  with  great  efficiency.  Eight  hundred  refugees  are 
quartered  here  permanently.  Their  needs  in  clothing, 
blankets,  and  material  are  great.  They  are  almost  en- 
tirely of  the  peasant  or  lower  classes.  They  sleep  on 
mattresses,  stuffed  with  straw,  on  hoards.  The  courage, 
patience  and  good  will  of  these  people  is  surprising. 
Thev  have  organized  their  establishments  with  rough 
kitchens,  wash-houses,  and  wash-rooms.  The  women  are 
making  sand  bags  for  the  trenches  at  the  front.  Many 
of  the  men  have  found  employment  in  the  town,  and  the 
children  are  returning  to  the  schools.  All  seems  promis- 
ing for  the  future." 

Even  the  most  public  spirited  communities,  however, 
early  reached  the  limit  of  their  capacity.  In  the  mean- 
time, the  evacuation  of  Venice  continued.  Towards  the 
end  of  February  our  representative,  the  American  Consul, 
wrote :  "  It  is  not  a  question  as  to  whether  it  would  be 
best  for  these  people  to  move  or  not.  They  are  going. 
You  cannot  keep  a  population  in  a  town  a  few  miles  from 
the  front,  where  it  cannot  support  itself,  and  where  it  is 
continually  bombarded  from  the  skies,  and  may  at  any 
moment  be  bombarded  from  land,  or  sea,  or  both,  and 
where  an  enemy  offensive  would  complicate  and  intensify 
all  of  the  difficulties.  If  present  conditions  continue, 
more  than  fifteen  thousand  people,  without  visible  means 
of  support,  will  leave  Venice  within  a  short  time." 

It  was  accordingly  suggested  that  the  Eed  Cross  should 
go  into  a  new  field  of  activity  which  meant  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  the  construction  of  a  town  for  these  refugees. 
It  was  thought  that  they  could  be  housed  in  tents  or  tarred 
paper  barracks  which  could  have  been  rapidly  set  up. 
Everything  must  be  ready  before  the  March  moon,  that 
is,  before  the  next  bombardment  from  the  air.  The  Eed 
Cross  agreed  to  undertake  the  work.  Then  followed  a 
series  of  delays.  It  was  found  that  the  plan  to  use  tents 
or  build  flimsy  temporary  shelters  was  not  feasible.  It 
was   finally   decided  to  build  more  permanent  shelters. 


ARRIVAL  OF  PERMANENT  COMMISSION  43 

using  a  kind  of  cement  brick  made  in  the  valley  of 
Pompeii  almost  adjoining  the  city  that  was  buried  under 
the  ashes  of  Vesuvius  2,000  years  ago,  and  out  of  lapillo, 
a  kind  of  stone  erupted  by  that  volcano.  Not  only  the 
March,  but  also  the  April  moon  had  come  and  gone  be- 
fore the  contract  was  signed. 

A  tract  of  twenty-five  acres  was  secured,  requisitioned 
by  the  Italian  Government  for  the  purpose,  just  outside 
the  walls  of  Pisa.  It  is  picturesquely  situated  with  the 
mountains  rising  in  the  near  distance  on  one  side,  and  on 
the  other,  the  town  of  Pisa  with  its  roofs  showing  above 
the  famous  Medicean  aqueduct  built  four  hundred  years 
ago.  The  plan  was  to  construct  a  village  here  which 
would  accommodate  two  thousand  refugees  and  could  later 
be  expanded  if  that  proved  desirable.  It  was  to  be  a 
village  of  bungalows,  eighty  in  all,  sub-divided  into  apart- 
ments of  varying  sizes,  with  plenty  of  garden  space  for 
each  family.  In  addition  there  were  to  be  eleven  other 
buildings  for  community  use,  a  kitchen,  a  school,  a  store, 
a  hospital,  a  day  nursery,  a  laundry,  public  lavatories, 
etc.  There  was  to  be  a  public  square  and  playground. 
In  short,  it  was  to  be  a  model  village. 

When  the  contract  was  signed  it  was  hoped  that  the 
work  would  be  completed  by  the  first  of  August.  There 
were,  however,  further  delays,  partly  due  to  causes  such 
as  are  apt  to  arise  anywhere  and  any  time,  partly  due 
to  conditions  created  by  the  war.  The  Armistice  found 
the  village  still  uncompleted.  It  will  never  be  needed  for 
its  original  purpose.  It  has  been  turned  over  to  the 
Italian  government,  which  will  probably  use  it  as  a  home 
for  the  re-education  of  the  mutilated  victims  of  the  war. 

It  was  a  bold  undertaking  and  appealed  to  the  imagina- 
tion. There  was  something  typically  American  about 
this  plan  to  construct  a  little  Venetian  village,  complete  in 
every  detail,  which  might  give  the  refugees  who  were  for- 
tunate enough  to  be  sent  there,  normal  conditions  of  liv- 
ing, in  healthful  and  attractive  surroundings;  and  after- 


44  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

wards,  when  the  war  was  over  and  they  had  returned,  still 
serve  some  worthy  Red  Cross  purpose  in  times  of  peace. 

At  the  time  that  the  work  was  begun  no  one  dreamed 
that  it  was  only  a  question  of  months  when  hostilities 
would  cease.  No  doubt,  could  the  early  ending  of  the 
war  have  been  foreseen,  many  plans  would  have  been 
different.  Perhaps  this  village  would  not  have  been 
undertaken.  It  is  barely  possible  that  the  Commission 
might  have  attempted  to  save  time  by  putting  up  a  lot 
of  wooden  shacks  like  those  we  sent  in  large  numbers 
to  Messina  after  the  earthquake.  But  —  have  you  seen 
Messina  recently?  Those  sheds  are  still  there.  That 
once  beautiful  city  is  now  a  shanty  town  through  our  aid, 
an  ugly  blotch  on  the  fair  face  of  Sicily.  Would  you 
have  Pisa,  the  beautiful  old  town  on  the  banks  of  the 
Arno  bristling  with  historic  memories  and  rich  in  price- 
less treasures  of  art,  similarly  marred  ?  There  stands  the 
famous  old  leaning  tower  as  it  has  stood  for  centuries, 
bending  over  the  city  as  if  with  friendly  eye  to  keep 
jealous  guard  of  its  honor.  We  can  easily  imagine  his 
bending  over  a  little  farther  to  watch  with  mingled 
curiosity  and  suspicion  this  American  experiment  in  town 
building  just  beyond  the  old  city  wall.  But  the  sight 
of  a  city  of  wooden  shacks  would  have  given  such  a  blow 
to  his  pride  that  it  must  surely  have  sent  him  toppling 
from  his  base.  The  thing  could  not  be  done  in  old  Pisa. 
It  is  well  since  the  after-war  use  must  now  be  the  justi- 
fication of  the  two  million  lire  which  the  village  has  cost 
that  the  Red  Cross  has  left  a  durable  and  worthy  monu- 
ment. 

The  workshops  and  sewing  rooms  which  had  been 
originally  established  to  meet  the  refugee  emergency  were 
gradually  reorganized  and  enlarged  to  meet  the  more  gen- 
eral conditions  of  distress  caused  by  the  war.  It  must  be 
borne  in  mind  that  it  was  at  no  time  any  part  of  the  task 
of  the  Red  Cross  to  attempt  to  cope  with  the  problem  of 
Italy's  poor.     From  first  to  last  its  work  was  war  work, 


ARRIVAL  OF  PERMANENT  COMMISSION  45 

and  win-the-war  work,  and  everything  that  was  undertaken 
for  civilian  relief  had  for  its  object  healing  the  wounds 
of  war  on  the  ''  inner  front,"  and  thus  helping  to  create 
that  serenity  of  mind  and  confidence  which  were  essential 
to  victory.  And  so  no  one  was  employed  in  a  Eed  Cross 
workroom  who  was  not  either  a  refugee  or  a  member  of  a 
soldier's  family  unable  to  get  other  work  and  in  special 
need  because  the  family  bread-winner  was  fighting  for  us 
all  at  the  front. 

As  has  been  said,  workrooms  for  the  making  of  lace 
were  early  established  for  the  women  proficient  in  that 
art  among  Venetian  refugees  on  the  shores  of  the  Adriatic. 
And  there  were  two  in  Sicily  for  the  making  of  Cin- 
quecento  lace,  for  which  the  people  of  that  country  are 
famous.  Generally  in  connection  with  these  workrooms 
there  were  schools  where  young  girls  might  learn  the  art. 
And  there  were  shops  for  woodwork,  basket  work  and 
the  making  of  mattresses  from  sea-weed,  and  one  where 
flags  were  made.  But  by  far  the  greatest  number  of  work- 
rooms were  for  the  making  of  shoes  and  clothing  needed 
for  the  children  in  the  care  of  the  Red  Cross.  And  thus 
the  money  expended  was  made  to  do  double  service,  giving 
emplo;)Tnent  and  at  the  same  time  providing  the  articles 
which  would  otherwise  have  had  to  be  bought.  As  leather 
was  scarce  and  dear  what  might  be  called  substitute  shoes 
were  made  in  most  of  the  shops,  such  as  the  Capri  type 
with  rope  soles,  or  the  Friuli  type  with  soles  made  of 
scraps  of  cloth  quilted  together.  Then  there  were  the 
native  zoccoli,  a  kind  of  footwear  resembling  Chinese 
sandals  except  that  the  soles  were  made  of  hawthorn  wood 
and  had  heels.  It  was  surprising  to  see  the  way  the 
children  could  run  in  this  impossible  and  loosely  attached 
footwear  without  shedding  the  shoes  as  they  ran.  Their 
progress  was  in  marked  contrast  with  the  sedate  shuffle 
and  cautious  dogtrot  of  Chinese  children  in  their  san- 
dals. By  June  the  sewing  rooms  were  all  converted  into 
shops    for   the    making    of    children's    garments,    except 


46  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

that  there  were  certain  by-products,  for,  it  being  impor- 
tant to  economize  in  material,  much  ingenuity  was  shown 
in  utilizing  odds  and  ends.  For  example,  in  the  work- 
room in  Taormina,  out  of  the  new  material  the  garments 
were  cut,  then  the  larger  scraps  were  used  in  making 
hats,  and  then  the  next  smaller  in  making  soles  for 
Friulian  shoes,  then  of  the  narrow  strips  rag  rugs  were 
made,  and  finally  the  last  remnants  were  chopped  up  and 
used  for  pillows  and  mattresses. 

An  idea  of  the  extent  of  this  work  is  best  gained  by 
looking  ahead  to  the  final  figures  reported.  There  were 
in  all  88  workrooms  established  by  the  Ked  Cross  in  Italy, 
employing  nine  thousand  women.  The  total  number  of 
articles  produced  was  approximately  a  million  and  a  half, 
with  a  consumption  of  two  million  and  a  quarter  metres 
of  cloth. 

The  garments  were  given  to  the  people  directly  under 
the  care  of  the  Eed  Cross,  in  refugee  homes,  orphanages, 
and  day  nurseries ;  or  to  Italian  organizations  caring  for 
war  children ;  or  to  needy  families  whose  cases  had  been 
specially  investigated.  But  in  general  it  was  found  to 
make  for  a  better  spirit  if  the  distribution,  outside  of  Ked 
Cross  institutions  and  similar  Italian  organizations,  was 
on  a  paid  basis,  and  accordingly  the  surplus  would  be 
sold  for  a  nominal  figure  much  below  the  actual  cost  — 
a  few  cents  a  garment.  But  again,  such  sales  were  only 
made  to  refugees  and  soldiers'  families  whose  needs  had 
been  investigated.  To  help  the  women  whose  wage  earn- 
ing had  to  be  done  in  odd  moments  of  household  duties, 
yarn  was  given  out  for  the  knitting  of  socks  and  sweaters, 
and  the  women  were  paid  for  the  work  according  to 
schedules  fixed  by  the  Government.  The  pay  in  the  Red 
Cross  workrooms  was  always  at  the  rate  prevailing  in  the 
respective  communities,  as  was  obviously  desirable,  and 
ranged  from  two  to  three  and  a  half  lire  a  day.  But  not 
infrequently  the  women  workers  were  given  the  privilege 
of  buying  the  midday  meal  at  nominal  cost  in  one  of  the 


^  ?  V. 

*  r,  a^ 

'§  00  a 

s  ^  «^ 

-.  o  o 

i  -^  c3 


*     C     M3 

>'-^  s 

C^  o 


3 


p   o 


0)    ^ 


.■^   ^   O 


o 


ARRIVAL  OF  PERMANENT  COMMISSIOJT         47 

Eed  Cross  economic  kitchens.  The  workrooms  were 
always  light,  airy  and  cheerful,  and  pervaded  by  an 
atmosphere  of  friendliness  which  made  them  more  like 
social  centers  than  ordinary  shops.  And  to  them  could  not 
infrequently  he  traced  an  improved  tone  in  the  general 
life  of  the  communities  in  which  they  were  established. 

It  was  the  uniform  policy  of  the  Red  Cross  in  its  activi- 
ties to  fall  in  line  with  Italian  usage.  One  of  the  most 
widespread  means  of  poor  relief  in  Italy  has  long  been 
the  economic  kitchen.  This  is  a  place  where  deserving 
poor  can  procure  prepared  food  at  or  slightly  below  cost. 
Social  reformers  have  questioned  the  wisdom  of  this 
method  of  dealing  with  the  problem  of  the  poor,  but  no 
one  could  question  its  value  and  effectiveness  in  times  of 
war  in  an  impoverished  nation  when  abnormally  high 
prices  and  reduced  earning  capacity  meant  that  for  a  large 
number  of  people  the  wolf  was  always  looking  in  at  the 
door.  So  the  Red  Cross  contributed  to  this  form  of  re- 
lief so  far  as  it  affected  the  refugees  and  families  of 
soldiers  both  by  aiding  existing  Italian  institutions  and 
by  starting  independent  kitchens  where  need  was  great- 
est. Every  case  was  investigated,  generally  in  coopera- 
tion with  Italian  authorities  and  a  ticket  (tessera)  given 
to  those  entitled  to  receive  food  indicating  the  number 
of  rations  which  the  holder  could  procure.  At  the  noon 
hour  at  each  of  these  kitchens  the  line  would  form  of  old 
men,  women,  and  children,  carrying  all  manner  of  bizarre 
receptacles  to  receive  the  midday  meal,  which  consisted 
of  the  thick  and  savory  and  nourishing  "  soup,"  or  min- 
estra,  concocted  on  scientific  dietary  principles,  contain- 
ing beans  or  peas  or  rice,  with  tomato  sauce  and  greens 
and  fat  and  usually  meat.  The  barreled  beef  and  par- 
ticularly the  lard  and  clear-belly  bacon  sent  in  such  large 
quantities  from  America  proved  a  godsend  to  the  people 
for  whom  these  foods  had  become  all  but  unobtainable. 
Fifty  soup  kitchens  in  all  came  under  the  care  of  the  Red 
Cross,  dispensing  most  of  the  time  an  average  of  approxi- 


48  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

mately  thirty  thousand  rations  a  day.  Two  cents  were 
paid  for  a  generous  portion.  In  cases  of  special  poverty 
it  was  given  free.  Uncooked  food  was  also  distributed 
to  a  limited  number  of  investigated  families  in  certain  re- 
gions where  special  conditions  prevailed,  but  this  was 
not  done  to  any  large  extent  until  after  the  armistice,  and 
in  the  liberated  territories. 

For  refugee  children  whose  normal  life  had  been  so 
suddenly  and  harshly  interrupted  the  Red  Cross  estab- 
lished schools,  providing  teachers  and  equipment  as  well 
as  food  and  clothing,  the  older  children  being  in  many 
cases  given  industrial  training  in  addition  to  the  regular 
schooling.  These  schools  were  established  where  the  local 
accommodations  were  inadequate  to  meet  the  increased 
demand  due  to  the  great  influx  of  refugees.  In  some  sec- 
tions, Genoa,  Naples,  and  Avellino,  there  were  day  nur- 
series for  the  babies  of  refugee  mothers  who  were  earning 
a  livelihood  in  Red  Cross  workrooms. 

But  almost  from  the  first  the  care  of  children  was 
not  confined  to  refugees.  The  Italians  have  long  been 
familiar  with  an  institution  which  they  call  asilo,  a  sort 
of  combination  of  day-nursery  and  kindergarten.  Here 
children  from  three  to  six  years  of  age  are  kept  during 
the  day,  provided  with  food  and  clothing  and  given  in- 
struction suitable  to  their  years,  leaving  their  mothers 
free  to  work.  But  war  conditions  and  the  difficulty  of 
getting  food  had  forced  retrenchments  just  at  the  time 
when  need  was  greatest.  Italy  has  always  been  rich  in 
children, —  it  is  her  never-failing  crop  —  and  in  their 
lives  the  pinch  of  war  was  most  keenly  felt.  Here  was 
the  opportunity  for  the  Red  Cross  not  only  to  help  the 
children,  undernourished  and  often  sickly,  to  get  a  start 
in  life  along  the  roadway  of  health,  but  also  to  cheer  and 
encourage  through  its  efforts  the  soldier  father  at  the 
front,  while  at  the  same  time  freeing  the  mother  to  take 
his  place  as  the  family  bread-winner.  Accordingly  some 
of  the  existing  struggling  institutions  were  aided,  many 


ARRIVAL  OF  PERMANENT  COMMISSION  49 

were  taken  over  bodily,  and  more  were  independently  es- 
tablished. In  every  case  the  community  cooperated,  sup- 
plying the  quarters  and  care  and  sometimes  the  teacher. 
Buildings  would  be  made  over  by  the  Ked  Cross,  provided 
with  modern  sanitary  arrangements  and  the  rooms  made 
bright  and  cheerful  and  furnished  with  blackboards  and 
kindergarten  supplies.  Here  the  children  of  soldiers  in 
need  of  care  were  gathered  together  and  clothed  and  fed 
and  given  a  play-leader.  After  the  midday  meal  came 
the  inevitable  nap,  sometimes  in  cribs,  sometimes  in 
cradles  supplied  by  the  mothers,  sometimes  on  mattresses 
on  the  floor,  but  most  often  sitting  at  their  desks,  their 
heads  resting  on  folded  arms.  Generally  in  the  after- 
noon they  were  given  milk  and  a  piece  of  white  bread 
("  American  cake  "  the  children  christened  it)  made  with 
flour  brought  from  America  for  the  purpose.  In  the  Pon- 
tine Marsh  district  south  of  Rome  there  were  twelve  of 
these  asili  for  soldiers'  children  whose  mothers  worked 
in  the  fields  far  below  the  towns  perched  on  the  hill- 
tops where  the  menace  of  the  malarial  mosquito  of  the 
marshes  had  forced  them  to  make  their  homes.  The  prob- 
lem of  getting  food  had  been  particularly  difficult  here 
and  the  children,  under-nourished  and  anaemic,  fell  easy 
victims  to  malaria  and  influenza.  More  than  one  marble 
tablet  has  been  erected  in  appreciation  of  the  work,  dedi- 
cated (to  give  a  sample  inscription)  "  To  the  imperishable 
memory  of  the  glorious  deeds  for  human  brotherhood 
gracefully  accomplished  by  the  American  Eed  Cross." 

Not  all  of  the  asili  were  run  on  the  same  plan.  For 
example  in  Assisi  which  particularly  suffered  during  the 
war  from  the  absence  of  tourists,  where  extreme  poverty 
had  left  its  mark  in  the  pinched  faces  and  pallid  cheeks 
of  the  half-clad  children  swarming  as  of  yore  in  the  nar- 
row streets  and  public  squares,  older  children  were  in- 
cluded in  the  Eed  Cross  fold.  There  were  three  hundred 
in  all,  and  every  morning  they  were  taken  in  groups  for 
recreation  to  the  hills  above  the  town,  the  hills  where  St. 


50  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

Francis  received  his  spiritual  message.  It  seemed  partic- 
ularly fitting  that  the  Eed  Cross  should  put  forth  its  best 
efforts  in  the  birthplace  of  that  gentle-souled  saint  whose 
creed  it  was  to  minister  to  the  poor  and  suffering.  In  some 
of  the  asili  the  Montessori  method  was  used.  And  had 
you  chanced  to  go  to  Genoa  you  might  have  found  an 
asilo  including  children  younger  than  usual,  housed  in  a 
building  that  before  the  war  had  been  a  German  club. 
Here  babies'  prattle  and  children's  laughter  filled  the 
rooms  that  once  had  resounded  to  the  heavy  German  gut- 
tural voices  toasting,  perhaps,  "  the  Day  "  that  forced  so 
much  suffering  on  the  world  and  crowded  the  sunshine 
out  of  so  many  children's  lives.  A  large  sandpile  under 
the  shade  of  the  cypress  trees  on  a  shelf  cut  into  the  moun- 
tain side  overlooking  the  bay  of  Genoa  was  the  children's 
special  delight.  But  you  could  hardly  believe  that  these 
cheerful  chubby  babies  were  the  little  starvelings  that  had 
come  under  Red  Cross  care  only  a  few  months  before. 

]^o  part  of  the  work  undertaken  for  the  civilian  popu- 
lation in  It.aly  was  so  much  appreciated  by  the  people; 
and  none  has  given  so  much  satisfaction  to  the  Red  Cross 
workers,  for  the  beneficial  results  were  immediate  and 
striking,  and  th©  gratitude  of  mothers  and  of  whole  com- 
munities most  touching.  Besides,  the  children  themselves, 
generally  pretty  and  alert  and  intelligent,  always  well  be- 
haved and  r«eponsive,  were  a  continual  source  of  delight. 
And  it  is  probably  safe  to  assume  that  no  undertaking 
of  the  Red  Crosre  will  meet  with  more  general  approval 
from  the  millions  of  Americans  whose  contributions  made 
it  possible.  The  total  number  of  children  aided  by  the 
Red  Cross  directly  or  in  cooperation  with  Italian  organi- 
zations during  its  stay  in  Italy  was  154,704  up  to  the  time 
of  the  armistice  and  fully  one-third  of  these  were  in  schools 
and  asili.^ 

1  The  A.  R.  C.  also  from  time  to  time  gave  clothing  and  food  (gen- 
erally milk  and  white  flour)  to  more  than  500  Italian  organizations 
for  the  care  of  children.     These  are  not  included  in  the  above  figures. 


ARRIVAL  OF  PERMANENT  COMMISSION  51 

By  tlie  time  summer  had  come  you  could  scarcely  go 
to  any  part  of  Italy  without  stumbling  across  an  asilo  in 
front  of  whose  door  the  Stars  and  Stripes  and  the  flag 
of  Italy  were  entwined.  Let  it  be  known  in  advance  that 
the  Red  Cross  representative  was  coming  and  likely  as 
not  the  whole  town  would  turn  out  to  meet  him,  headed 
by  the  Mayor  and  other  officials.  Then  would  come  the 
inevitable  ceremony  at  the  asilo.  Little  Maria,  age  five, 
would  step  forward  and  recite  a  patriotic  poem  telling 
of  the  wrongs  done  by  Italy's  enemies  and  ending  bravely, 
"  But  we  will  chase  them  from  our  land,"  and  the  tiny 
hand  would  shoot  out  as  if  in  banishment  of  the  foe. 
And  then  Beppino,  fat  and  solemn,  would  make  a  speech 
giving  his  own  story  as  a  refugee  child,  or  perhaps  proudly 
telling  of  his  father  at  the  front,  never  forgetting  to  voice 
the  gratitude  felt  by  them  all  to  the  American  people, 
and  always  speaking  with  the  graceful  gesture  and  self- 
possession  of  the  seasoned  orator.  Then  there  would  be 
cheers  for  America  and  the  Red  Cross,  and  invariably, 
somewhere  in  the  proceedings,  the  Star  Spangled  Banner 
(II  Vessillo  Stellate)  sung  with  much  gusto.  For  Cap- 
tain Ferret,  who  before  the  war  was  an  expert  on  volcanoes, 
whose  favorite  haunt  was  the  crater  of  Vesuvius,  but  who 
as  a  Red  Cross  worker  had  found  a  rival  for  his  affec- 
tions in  the  children  of  our  Naples  schools,  translated  the 
first  and  last  verses  into  singable  Italian,  and  now  our 
national  anthem  is  known  and  sung  by  the  children  all  over 
Italy. 

Of  the  appreciation  of  this  work  by  the  men  at  the  front 
there  have  come  innumerable  evidences.  In  one  asilo  near 
Milan,  the  directress  brought  out  for  the  Red  Cross  in- 
spectors to  see  a  stack  of  over  a  hundred  letters  and  post- 
cards which  the  soldier  fathers  had  sent  to  their  children 
in  her  care.  The  following  is  a  literal  translation  of  one 
of  them.  It  is  longer  than  most  and  better  expressed,  but 
similar  sentiments  run  through  them  all: 


52  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

"  Dear  Leonardino :  How  glad  my  heart  is  to  receive 
your  card,  in  which  you  tell  me  that  you  are  happy  to  be 
at  the  asilo  of  the  American  Ked  Cross.  I  know  that 
your  mother  is  also  happy  to  know  that  you  are  safe, 
far  from  danger.  Yes,  my  dearest,  the  news  makes  me 
very  happy.  N^o  longer  am  I  disturbed  by  the  sad 
thought  of  having  left  my  family  voluntarily,  in  order  to 
defend  our  dear  fatherland,  because  you,  my  angel,  my 
consolation,  are  safe,  nourished  by  good  soup  and  sweet 
milk. 

"  Is  it  not  enough  that  I  am  sure  that  you  are  being 
taught  at  the  asilo,  among  other  beautiful  things,  to  pray 
for  your  father,  and  to  be  always  grateful  to  those  who 
give  you  aid,  and  to  love  your  dear  motherland  ?  My 
Leonardino,  you  must  realize  that  the  good  Americans, 
defenders  of  oppressed  peoples  against  barbarous  enemies, 
have  come  from  a  very  far  country  to  give  us  every  sort 
of  help,  to  relieve  so  much  suffering,  and  to  hasten  the 
day  of  victory.  Our  greatest  thanks  will  always  be  in- 
ferior to  their  merits.  And  you,  my  baby,  are  enjoying 
the  benefits  of  their  great  generosity. 

"  When  the  American  gentlemen  come  to  the  asilo,  you 
my  pretty  little  child,  should  clap  your  hands  for  them 
and  shout :  '  Long  live  America,  Long  live  Wilson,  Long 
live  Italy.'     Your  father  kisses  you  tenderly." 

There  are  many  war  orphans  in  Italy.  But  since  the 
work  of  the  Ked  Cross  is  of  a  temporary  and  emergency 
character  orphanages  have  not  been  established  except  in 
a  few  cases  (Cesenatico,  Aosta,  Aquila)  where  conditions 
were  such  as  to  insure  either  their  continuance  after  the 
departure  of  the  Red  Cross  or  the  care  of  the  children 
by  local  agencies.  It  has  preferred,  instead,  to  help  in 
this  direction  by  giving  aid  to  already  established  Italian 
organizations. 

There  were,  however,  certain  groups  of  children  that 
could  not  be  cared  for  in  any  conventional  type  of  institu- 


9 


n 


ini 


i 


^4^.m^^^MM^ 


The  most  iuteristiiig  mcIhwjI  tor  let'ugi  e  Ituy^.  was  tlie  one  at 
Monteporzio,  just  above  Frascati. 


ARRIVAL  OF  PERMANENT  COMMISSION  5S 

tion,  children  who,  in  the  rush  of  refugees,  had  become 
separated  from  fathers  and  mothers  whose  fate  was  often 
unknown,  and  others  whose  mothers  had  died  or  become 
incapacitated  while  their  fathers  were  still  in  military 
service.  A  home  was  established  for  fifty  of  these  home- 
less boys  at  Trevi  in  a  beautiful  old  building,  formerly 
a  school  for  Austrian  priests,  and  here  in  addition  to  their 
regular  studies,  they  were  trained  in  carpentry  and  agri- 
culture. An  agricultural  school  was  planned  for  a  similar 
group  at  Collestrada,  near  Perugia. 

Probably  the  most  interesting  school  of  this  sort  was 
the  one  at  Monteporzio,  just  above  Frascati,  established 
by  the  Prefect,  and  later  taken  over  and  enlarged  by  the 
Red  Cross.  Here  in  a  fine  old  seventeenth  century  mon- 
astery, on  a  terrace  commanding  a  fine  view  of  the  Roman 
Campagna,  eighty-six  refugee  boys  between  the  ages  of 
eight  and  fourteen  were  cared  for,  their  teachers,  and  like- 
wise the  nuns  who  did  the  housework,  being  also  refugees. 
They  were  given  all  the  advantages  of  the  modern  school 
and  there  were  classes  in  drawing  and  painting,  in  which 
some  showed  considerable  aptitude.  They  were  also  given 
military  training  and  in  their  American  Boy  Scout  uni- 
forms would  drill  and  parade  on  the  avenues  of  the 
monastery  grounds,  or,  on  special  occasions,  might  be 
seen  marching  along  the  streets  of  Rome.  It  was  hard 
to  realize,  seeing  these  little  refugees  playing  happily  in 
their  new  home,  that  they  had  lately  witnessed  scenes  of 
death  and  destruction  that  must  have  left  an  indelible 
mark  on  their  souls.  Here  and  there,  however,  would  be 
one  whose  laughter  could  not  drive  away  the  haimted 
look  from  the  eyes.  One  of  these,  a  boy  of  eight,  never 
quite  succeeded  in  forgetting  the  tragedy  which  had  aged 
him  beyond  his  years. 

At  two  o'clock  one  morning  in  the  far  north,  at  a  school 
where  he  had  been  sent  by  his  parents  from  a  small  neigh- 
boring town,  he  was  awakened  by  the  cries  of  the  soldiers 
and  the  violent  ringing  of  church  bells :     "  The  Austrians 


64  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

are  coming,  flee  for  your  lives !  "  Little  Mariano,  with 
some  sixty  schoolmates,  hurriedly  dressed,  rushed  into  the 
street  and  started  southward  in  the  terrible  flight.  Ninety 
kilometers  they  walked  in  a  very  bedlam  of  confusion, 
men  and  women  screaming,  cannon  booming  and  shells 
exploding  all  about.  Finally  at  the  railway  station  they 
were  hurried  into  waiting  cattle  cars  and  then,  just  when 
danger  seemed  past,  the  train  itself  was  bombarded  by 
the  guns  of  the  enemy,  and  of  these  sixty  boys  but  five 
escaped  uninjured,  many  being  killed  outright.  "  Only 
five,  and  I  was  one  of  them,  Signore,"  says  little  Mariano, 
dropping  his  head.  For  some  time  he  wandered  from 
town  to  town  until  at  length  he  was  picked  up  by  a  priest, 
himself  a  fugitive,  and  finally  he  found  his  way  to  Monte- 
porzio,  the  school  for  refugee  boys  that  had  just  been 
founded.  There  is  one  bright  spot  in  little  Mariano's 
story.  For  one  day  among  the  new  boys  to  enter  the 
school  was  a  fine  looking  youth  of  fourteen,  who  proved  to 
be  none  other  than  Mariano's  own  brother  of  whom  he 
had  had  no  word  for  seven  months.  It  was  a  dramatic 
and  touching  reunion. 

Some  of  these  little  fellows  have  been  left  in  complete 
ignorance  of  the  whereabouts  of  their  parents.  Signora 
Eipostelli,  who  had  charge  of  the  boys  before  the  Red  Cross 
took  over  the  school,  tells  how  one  day  when  walking  with 
her  charges  she  missed  two  of  the  smaller  boys  and  finally 
traced  them  to  a  small  roadside  chapel.  There  from  within 
she  heard  a  small  voice  raised  earnestly :  "  Listen,  these 
violets  are  not  for  Signora  Eipostelli.  I  want  to  leave 
them  for  the  Madonna,  because  she  might  find  my  parents." 


CHAPTER  IV 

Celebrating  the  Anniversary  of  America's  Declaration  of 
■^ar  —  Cash  Distributions  to  Soldiers'  Families  —  Mr.  Davi- 
son's visit  —  Meeting  in  Colosseum  —  Station  Canteens 

"  Italy  will  never  get  over  this  defeat. —  Now  we've 
got  the  Allies."  So  we  are  told  the  Kaiser  exclaimed, 
exulting  over  Caporetto.  No  doubt  he  understood  the 
psychology  of  his  ovsn  people  and  was  misled  thereby.  In 
truth,  the  mettle  of  a  nation,  as  of  an  individual,  is  shovm 
by  the  way  it  responds  to  defeat.  The  coward,  the  savage 
and  the  slavish  cry  and  throw  up  their  hands  and  sur- 
render, and  then  trust  to  tricks  and  wiles  and  crooked 
ways  to  pull  a  victory  out  of  defeat.  The  brave  and  the 
free  set  their  jaws,  gird  up  their  loins,  and  with  fresh 
determination,  return  to  the  fray.  Italy,  tried  by  this 
test,  had  not  been  found  wanting.  Never  had  she  been 
more  united  or  more  determined  than  she  was  after  Cap- 
oretto. She  had  found  herself  through  the  agony  of  de- 
feat. 

But  months  have  passed,  the  long  winter  months  of  pri- 
vation and  hardship.  December  and  January  were  un- 
usually cold  and  dry,  February  and  March  unusually  wet 
and  raw.  Marking  time  in  the  trenches  under  these  con- 
ditions was  not  inspiring,  and  the  news  from  home  grew 
more  and  more  disquieting.  The  old  crop  was  nearly 
exhausted  and  the  new  would  not  come  in  for  some  time. 
Food  was  scarcer  than  ever  and  very  dear.  There  was  a 
great  shortage  of  fuel.  And  the  soldier's  pay  was  only 
10^  a  day,  with  a  subsidy  of  17^  for  his  wife  and  9^  for 
each  child  under  12.  Except  in  the  manufacturing  re- 
gions in  the  north  it  was  difficult  to  find  employment  to 

56 


6«  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

supplement  this  meagre  allowance.  The  burden  falling 
on  the  civilian  population  was  greater  than  it  had  ever 
been  before.  It  was  known  that  the  enemy,  balked  of 
its  rich  prize  just  when  it  seemed  within  its  grasp,  stand- 
ing at  the  very  gates  of  coveted  Lombardy,  would  make 
every  effort  to  break  through  the  Italian  lines  as  soon  as 
the  weather  conditions  permitted.  Could  this  sorely  tried 
people  continue  its  heroic  resistance  ? 

The  defeatists,  pacifists,  socialists  and  pro-Germans  be- 
came more  and  more  active,  spreading  discontent  among 
the  soldiers  and  the  rural  population.  Moreover,  Italy  as 
well  as  France,  in  the  spring  of  1918,  had  its  attack  of 
Boloism.  And  the  famous  "  cotton-waste  scandals,"  in 
which  it  was  shown  that  a  number  of  pretended  Italian 
corporations  were  in  reality  disguised  German  firms  which 
had  been  steadily  shipping  cotton-waste  to  Germany 
through  Switzerland,  added  to  the  feeling  of  uncertainty. 
There  were  many  underground  attempts  of  German  propa- 
gandists to  weaken  the  moral  resistance  of  the  people. 
Rumors  of  approaching  peace  mysteriously  sprang  up  in 
all  quarters.  One  form  of  German  propaganda  particu- 
larly menacing  and  widespread  took  the  form  of  discredit- 
ing America.  It  was  said  that  America  had  entered 
the  war  in  order  to  prolong  it  for  her  own  gain,  that  she 
was  not  heart  and  soul  pledged  to  its  prosecution,  and  that 
she  could  never  get  ready  in  time  to  have  any  military  in- 
fluence on  the  result.  There  were  no  American  troops 
in  Italy  to  give  the  answer.  But  although  there  were  no 
American  fighting  troops  in  Italy,  there  was  a  force  of 
Americans  wearing  the  United  States  Army  uniform, 
members  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  and  to  them  there 
came  an  exceptional  opportunity  of  representing  the 
American  Army  and  the  American  people  at  a  time  when 
the  situation  was  most  critical. 

It  was  easier  to  meet  the  enemy  propaganda  and  to 
counteract  demoralizing  tendencies  in  the  large  cities  than 
in  the  remoter  villages  and  the  country  districts,  and  here 


AMERICA'S  DECLARATION  OF  WAR  ^7 

lay  the  opportunity  of  the  Eed  Cross.  There  is  no  part  of 
Italy  that  has  not  sent  its  quota  of  citizens  to  the  United 
States.  Talking  one  day  with  our  delegate  to  Avellino,  one 
of  the  poorer  sections  of  Italy,  he  remarked :  "  You  know 
this  district  sends  a  larger  proportion  of  emigrants  to 
America  than  any  other."  Shortly  afterwards  in  Sicily  on 
the  train  on  my  way  to  Palermo  an  Italian  by  my  side, 
pointing  to  a  town  we  had  just  passed,  said :  "  That  place 
has  been  largely  re-built  with  American  money.  More  peo- 
ple go  to  America  from  this  part  of  Italy  than  from  any 
other,"  and  he  added,  rather  sadly :  "  But  you  spoil 
them.  Their  love  of  Italy  brings  them  back,  but  their  love 
of  America  makes  them  unhappy  until  they  return." 
Some  weeks  later  in  a  little  town  at  the  other  extreme 
of  Italy,  in  the  heart  of  the  Dolomites,  the  Mayor  said  to 
me  almost  with  pride :  "  You  know  we  hold  the  record 
for  the  proportion  of  the  population  that  goes  to  America. 
Sooner  or  later  30  per  cent  of  them  find  their  way  there." 
I  know  not  which,  if  any,  was  right,  but  the  fact  is  that 
everywhere  in  Italy,  America  is  known  at  first  hand  and 
admired  as  a  land  of  power  and  plenty  and  loved  as  a 
land  of  freedom. 

The  stage  was  all  set  in  advance  to  make  effective  the 
work  which  the  Red  Cross  undertook.  The  plan  was 
simple  and  direct.  It  was  to  send  at  once  to  every  part 
of  Italy  men  in  the  American  uniform  to  carry  the  mes- 
sage of  American  friendship  and  sympathy  and  of  her  de- 
termination to  spend  all  of  her  resources  in  men  and 
means  in  order  to  insure  victory,  and  to  give  the  people 
tangible  evidence  of  her  determination  through  a  gift  of 
money  to  the  neediest  and  most  deserving  of  the  families 
of  soldiers  at  the  front.  There  was  to  be  no  limit  to  the 
number  of  families  aided  and  the  amount  was  to  be  meas- 
ured by  the  needs.  It  was  not  charity,  but  simple  jus- 
tice, taking  upon  our  shoulders  some  of  the  burden  borne 
by  the  old  men,  women,  and  children  whose  sole  support 
was  serving  our  common  cause  somewhere  in  the  trenches 


58  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

—  helping  them,  perhaps,  to  hny  meat  where  the  addition 
of  meat  to  the  family  table  for  a  few  davs  might  mean 
the  difference  between  insufficient  and  sufficient  nutri- 
tion, or  TO  purchase  milk  for  babies  underfed,  or  to  obtain 
the  warm  garment  that  would  help  make  up  for  the  dis- 
comfort caused  by  lack  of  fuel,  or,  possibly,  to  get  medi- 
cines for  the  sick  at  home. 

The  Premier,  keenly  alive  to  the  possibilities  of  the  un- 
dertaking, promptly  set  in  motion  the  elaborate  govern- 
mental and  municipal  machinery  to  determine  which  fam- 
ilies of  soldiers  were  to  be  aided.  Meanwhile,  Eed  Cross 
agents  were  dispatched  to  every  city,  town,  and  village. 
Telegrams  were  sent  to  delegates  in  distant  iields  to  leave  at 
once  by  the  most  rapid  means  of  conveyance  and  travel 
night  and  day  without  stopping  until  every  hamlet  in  their 
territory  had  received  the  message  from  America.  All 
other  work  must  for  the  time  being  be  left  to  subordinates. 
Relief  must  be  carried  immediately  to  those  to  whom  the 
war  had  brought  the  gi-eatest  distress,  and  it  must  be 
sho^^^l  by  the  actual  presence  of  American  officers  in  uni- 
form that  America  was  at  hand  with  aid.  During  the 
next  few  weeks  those  men  of  the  Eed  Cross  sped  to  all 
parts  of  Italy,  carrying  the  message.  It  would  have  been 
hard  to  go  anywhere  in  the  kingdom  during  that  period 
without  hearing  of  their  work  or  meeting  them  on  their 
mission.  You  might  have  seen  them  arriving  at  district 
headquarters,  their  automobiles  covered  with  mud  or  dust, 
their  uniforms  travel  stained,  but  their  faces  gleaming 
with  enthusiasm,  and  they  themselves  never  too  tired  to 
recount  with  interest  the  receptions  and  the  many  proofs 
of  sympathy  and  understanding  that  had  marked  the  busy 
day. 

The  itineraries  were  carefully  planned  notwithstanding 
the  haste  necessary.  The  Government  telegraphed  ahead 
the  news  of  the  expected  arrival  of  the  delegate.  At  each 
provincial  capital  the  Prefect  would  meet  the  American 
representative  and  at  each  town  he  was  given  a  gratify- 


AMERICA'S  DECLARATION  OF  WAR  59 

ing  demonstration  —  a  spontaneous  response  from  the 
people  which  showed  their  confidence  and  trust  in  their 
friends  in  the  United  States.  Generally  he  was  met  at 
the  city  gates  by  the  Mayor,  the  town  doctor,  the  parish 
priest,  and  other  dignitaries,  and  a  large  crowd  of  people, 
and  escorted  to  the  city  hall,  showered  with  flowers  and 
notes  of  welcome,  while  the  band  played  and  barefooted 
children  ran  ahead  waving  American  flags.  Then  in  the 
public  square  the  delegate  would  deliver  his  message,  the 
Mayor  and  the  Prefect  respond,  and  the  meeting  turn  into 
an  enthusiastic  patriotic  rally.  iSTot  infrequently  one  ob- 
served women,  overcome  with  emotion,  silently  weeping 
as  hope  sprang  afresh  in  their  hearts.  For  the  Italians, 
particularly  the  peasants,  are  an  emotional  people  and 
responsive  and  easily  moved  by  kindliness. 

Everywhere  our  delegates  went  they  were  continually 
running  across  odd  bits  of  American  atmosphere.  For 
example,  the  Mayor  of  a  small  village  high  up  in  the  Apen- 
nines pointed  with  pride  to  a  captain's  commission  which 
hung  on  his  dining  room  wall.  It  was  a  commission  in 
the  Northern  Army  of  the  United  States  signed  in  1861 
by  Abraham  Lincoln.  The  Mayor's  father  had  been  a 
political  refugee  in  '48  and  had  led  a  company  of  Italians 
during  our  Civil  War. 

Everywhere  one  met  the  tragic  evidences  of  war.  In 
the  little  town  of  Fossombrone  150  children  who  had  lost 
their  fathers  in  the  war  presented  flowers  to  the  Ameri- 
cans; in  Umbria  two  little  girls  walked  five  miles  to 
present  wild  flowers  to  the  Americans  and  to  tell  the  story 
of  a  father  who  was  a  prisoner  in  Austria,  of  a  brother 
who  had  been  killed  months  before,  and  of  two  brothers 
at  the  front,  and  so  it  went,  for  of  such  experiences  there 
was  no  end. 

All  through  the  northern  provinces  just  beyond  the 
Austrian  line  one  ran  across  many  specially  harrowing  evi- 
dences of  the  havoc  of  war.  In  one  village  were  many 
peasants  who  had  refused  to  leave.     A  house  to  house 


eO  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

distribution  was  made  in  this  territory,  and  into  many  of 
these  homes  the  American  Ked  Cross  was  able  to  take  a 
message  of  comfort  and  sympathy.  In  one  little  half 
wrecked  house,  the  American  Red  Cross  party  found  an 
aged  and  destitute  father  and  mother  mourning  over  the 
body  of  their  youngest  boy,  only  sixteen  years  old,  killed 
by  the  same  shell  that  had  wrecked  their  home.  The  ar- 
rival of  the  Americans  with  their  messages  of  comfort  and 
assistance  seemed  to  come  as  a  direct  answer  to  their 
prayers  to  heaven,  and  they  eagerly  sent  tidings  of  it  to 
their  three  sons  at  the  front. 

In  all,  7051  cities,  towns,  and  villages  were  reached  by 
the  Red  Cross  representatives.  In  each  community  a  list 
of  the  most  needy  families  had  been  prepared  in  advance 
by  a  committee  variously  constituted  but  generally  headed 
by  the  mayor  and  including  the  chairmen  of  local  relief 
organizations  and  the  more  important  civil  and  religious 
authorities.  After  consultation  with  this  committee  a 
sum  of  money  was  left  sufficient  to  accomplish  the  purpose 
of  the  distribution.  Receipts  were  taken  and  blanks  sup- 
plied on  which  the  mayor  was  required  to  make  full  ac- 
counting. The  total  sum  distributed  was  6,431,000  lire 
and  the  number  of  families  aided  290,000.  And  it  was 
all  accomplished  in  three  weeks'  time. 

In  most  of  the  towns  visited  patriotic  proclamations 
were  at  once  posted  on  the  walls  for  all  to  read,  repeat- 
ing the  substance  of  the  message  of  the  Red  Cross  dele- 
gate and  rejoicing  in  the  friendship  of  the  two  nations  now 
bound  together  more  securely  in  defense  of  common  ideals : 
"  For  the  rights  of  the  people,  for  the  freedom  and  in- 
dependence of  nationalities  "  {per  i  diritti  dei  popoli,  per 
la  libertd  e  indipendenza  delle  nazionalita) .  And  by 
letter  and  postcard  word  of  the  American  visit  was  sent 
by  the  families  to  their  men  at  the  front,  and  the  huge 
stack  of  postcards  received  by  the  Red  Cross  from  the 
soldiers  themselves  expressing  simple  and  touching  grati- 
tude is  eloquent  evidence  of  the  effect  of  this  distribution 


AMERICA'S  DECLARATION  OF  WAR  61 

upon  the  spirit  of  the  troops  and  of  the  people;  and 
many  assurances  were  received  from  official  and  military 
sources  of  its  immediate  beneficial  result.  It  was  not  the 
gift  of  money  (which  was  little  enough,  the  maximum 
to  an  individual  family  was  100  lire)  so  much  as  the 
sight  of  the  Americans  in  uniform  and  the  message  of 
friendship  they  brought  that  carried  conviction  to  the 
people  that  Italy's  ally  and  friend,  the  foster-mother  of 
so  many  Italians,  was  wholeheartedly  with  them  and  was 
out  to  win.  The  slander  of  the  German  propagandist 
simply  melted  away. 

It  was  of  course  to  be  expected  in  an  undertaking  of 
this  magnitude,  put  through  with  such  dispatch,  that 
hitches  would  occur  here  and  there  in  carrying  out  the 
program.  For  example,  in  one  district  the  Red  Cross 
delegates,  carried  away  by  their  enthusiasm  in  the  first 
few  towns  that  they  reached,  distributed  so  lavishly  that 
they  had  to  retrench  in  other  communities  near  by,  and 
this  gave  rise  to  invidious  comparisons.  And  in  one  part 
of  Italy  where  everyone  is  poor,  no  one  could  be  found  who 
was  willing  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  designating 
the  most  needy,  and  a  general  distribution  was  made, 
which  resulted  in  the  amounts  being  so  small  in  each  case 
as  to  destroy  the  effectiveness  of  the  work.  But  these 
were  the  rare  exceptions.  The  April  distribution  was 
successful  beyond  all  expectation.  It  was  a  fitting  cele- 
bration of  the  anniversary  of  our  entrance  into  the  war. 
It  is  hard  to  imagine  how  America's  message  could  have 
been  more  quickly,  more  widely  and  more  effectively  de- 
livered. 

In  fact  the  evidences  of  success  were  so  overwhelming 
as  to  suggest  the  desirability  of  undertaking  as  a  regular 
Red  Cross  activity  a  monthly  distribution  to  soldiers' 
families.  For  some  time  the  Commission  hesitated. 
While  the  question  was  still  undecided  it  happened  one 
day  that  two  members  of  the  Commission  were  lunching 
with  a  famous  baritone,  well  known  both  in  America  and 


62  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

Europe.  His  father  was  an  Italian  blacksmith  and  at  the 
outbreak  of  hostilities  he  had  returned  to  his  native  land 
to  fight  for  his  country.  It  was  a  part  of  his  duty  at  this 
time  to  conduct  sentenced  soldiers  to  prison.  He  would 
generally  ask  them  for  their  story.  He  told  of  one  man 
whom  he  had  recently  conducted  to  prison  sentenced  for 
desertion.  "  I  was  married,"  said  the  soldier,  "  only  a 
few  months  before  the  war.  My  wife  is  very  pretty. 
It  was  a  love  match.  And  when  she  wrote  me  that  she 
was  expecting  a  baby,  I  used  to  worry.  What  could  she 
do  with  85  centimes  a  day,  all  that  the  Government 
allows,  and  it  allows  nothing  for  children  under  two 
years,  and  my  wife, —  she  was  so  pretty.  So  I  ran  away. 
'No  one  discovered  me.  I  worked  a  whole  year  support- 
ing my  wife  and  baby,  and  then  v*^hen  things  were  getting 
a  little  better,  we  talked  it  over,  my  wife  and  I,  and  de- 
cided it  was  best  for  me  to  go  back  to  the  army  and  give 
myself  up.  I  did^  and  now  —  I  have  been  sentenced  for 
three  years  in  prison." 

Two  votes  were  won  that  day  for  the  continuance  of 
the  distribution.  A  little  assistance  from  the  Red  Cross 
would  in  this  case  have  meant  so  much.  It  is  in  fact  a 
truth,  borne  out  from  many  quarters,  that  the  main  cause 
for  desertions  from  the  Italian  Army  has  been  neither 
cowardice  nor  lack  of  patriotism,  but  devotion  to  the 
family,  for  which  the  Italian  is  noted,  and  worrying  over 
conditions  at  home.  Relief  from  just  such  anxieties  is 
plainly  Red  Cross  work.  It  was  decided  to  continue  the 
financial  aid,  and  the  Italian  authorities  gladly  cooperated 
in  working  out  the  scheme  for  the  selecting  of  the  bene- 
ficiaries. Each  of  the  generals  commanding  Italy's  nine 
armies  recommended  every  month  a  stated  number  of 
soldiers  and  to  the  family  of  each  was  given  75  lire. 
The  official  censor  would  generally  get  a  line  from  the 
letters  written  from  the  front  on  the  cases  of  greatest 
need,  and  the  officers  would  recommend  for  assistance  the 
families  in  special  need  whose  husbands  had  distinguished 


AMERICA'S  DECLARATION  OF  WAR  63 

themselves  by  the  excellence  of  their  soldierly  conduct  at 
the  front.  The  number  of  soldiers  assisted  in  each  army 
was  in  proportion  to  the  fighting  force.  Although  only 
3,000  or  4,000  families  a  month  were  reached  in  this  way, 
different  families  were  reached  each  time  and  the  in- 
fluence was  out  of  proportion  to  the  number.  The  women 
who  received  this  assistance  were  filled  with  pride.  The 
gift  was  a  badge  of  distinction.  Everyone  in  the  town 
would  soon  hear  about  it.  Also  at  the  front  the  fact  of 
the  award  was  widely  known  among  the  soldiers.  The 
commanding  generals  themselves  have  expressed  the  warm- 
est appreciation  of  this  service,  not  only  strengthening  the 
sympathy  and  friendship  between  the  American  and 
Italian  armies,  but  also  reinforcing  the  soldiers'  spirit  and 
contributing  substantially  to  the  victorious  results.  The 
total  amount  distributed  under  this  plan  in  the  months 
that  followed  was  2,099,695  lire. 

During  April,  Mr.  H.  P.  Davison,  Chairman  of  the 
War  Council  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  with  the  Vice 
Chairman,  Mr.  Eliot  Wadsworth,  and  Mr.  Ivy  Lee,  made 
an  inspection  trip  through  Italy  which  turned  into  a 
triumphal  tour.  There  were  enthusiastic  demonstrations 
everywhere  they  went.  Their  welcome  in  each  city  was 
marked  by  circumstances  that  set  it  apart  from  the  others. 
In  Naples  the  people  crowded  the  beautiful  San  Carlo 
Opera  House,  eager  to  see  and  hear  the  man  who  more 
than  any  other  at  that  time  meant  America  to  them,  be- 
ing the  commanding  general  of  the  only  army  so  far  rep- 
resented in  Italy.  And  the  spontaneous  enthusiasm  of 
this  reception  was  simply  the  harbinger  of  what  was  to 
follow  everywhere  he  went.  In  Florence  the  great  Cin- 
quecento  Hall  of  the  Palazzo  Vecchio  was  filled  with  rep- 
resentatives of  patriotic  societies  gathered  to  welcome 
him,  while  the  Piazza  outside  was  thronged  with  cheer- 
ing crowds.  At  a  dinner  given  by  the  city  authorities 
the  General  of  the  army  corps  with  headquarters  in  Flor- 
ence announced  that  he  was  so  impressed  with  Mr.  Davi- 


64  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

son's  message  from  America  that  lie  would  have  it  read 
as  an  order  of  the  day  to  his  troops,  and  the  Mayor  de- 
clared that  he  would  have  it  read  in  all  the  schools  as  a 
message  from  the  11,000,000  children,  who  were  members 
■of  the  Red  Cross,  to  the  children  of  Italy.  In  Bologna, 
in  recognition  of  what  the  Red  Cross  had  done  for  Italian 
military  hospitals,  the  General  commanding  the  army 
corps  stationed  there  was  at  the  station  to  greet  the 
visitors  with  a  regiment  of  soldiers,  all  of  whom  had  been 
wounded  in  the  war.  Here,  as  in  Florence,  the  message 
from  America  was  made  an  order  of  the  day  to  be  read 
to  the  troops. 

But  the  most  impressive  reception  was  that  given  in 
the  Colosseum,  symbol  of  eternal  Rome,  which  even  in 
ruins  is  one  of  the  grandest  of  the  world's  structures,  on 
the  anniversary  of  America's  entrance  into  the  war, —  a 
day  celebrated  all  over  Italy  with  great  popular  demon- 
strations. Here  were  assembled  the  troops  stationed  in 
Rome,  and  picked  soldiers  who  had  come  from  the  front  to 
carry  back  to  their  comrades  in  arms  the  message  from 
America  and  the  inspiration  of  the  occasion.  And  all 
around  were  the  people  of  Rome  packed  in  every  avail- 
able corner  among  the  ruins  of  the  vast  amphitheatre. 
There  were  soldiers  with  medals  on  their  breasts  stand- 
ing with  people  from  the  poorest  quarters  in  what  was 
once  the  space  reserved  for  emperors :  there  were  women 
in  nurses'  veils  where  once  the  Vestal  Virgins  stood: 
little  children  were  perched  above  the  pits  from  which 
wild  beasts  had  been  loosed  in  the  days  of  pagan  Rome 
to  fight  with  gladiators  or  bring  death  to  Christian 
martyrs.  All  about  the  arena  were  the  flags  of  the  Allies, 
the  Stars  and  Stripes  given  special  prominence.  At  one 
side  a  tribune  had  been  arranged  for  the  speakers.  The 
welcome  was  extended  by  the  mayor  of  Rome  and  the 
Minister  of  Education,  and  then  our  Ambassador  spoke 
to  the  Italian  people  on  behalf  of  the  people  of  America. 
After  that  Mr.  Davison,  speaking  in  the  name  of  the  Red 


?>.*^f. 


AMERICA'S  DECLARATION  OF  WAR  65 

Cross,  "  the  collective  heart  of  America,"  delivered  the  fol- 
lowing message: 

"  It  is  perhaps  fitting  that  I  should  be  given  the  privi- 
lege of  addressing  you  on  this  most  historic  spot  —  fitting 
because  I  bring  a  message  from  millions  of  American  men 
and  millions  of  American  women  to  the  idol  of  your 
country,  His  Majesty  Your  King,  to  his  Majesty's  Gov- 
ernment, to  your  valiant  soldiers  at  the  front  and  to  your 
people  throughout  this  beautiful  land  of  sunny  Italy. 
Immediately  let  me  say  that  I  come  to  you  with  feelings 
above  all  else  of  respect  and  admiration  for  the  efforts  and 
the  sacrifices  your  people  have  so  willingly  made  in  a  war 
into  which  you,  like  the  United  States,  were  unwillingly 
drawn.  Like  the  United  States  you  could  not  remain 
out  of  this  war  and  retain  your  national  self-respect. 
'Nor  could  the  great  traditions  of  your  country  have  been 
upheld  had  you  aligned  yourselves  other  than  against  the 
most  dangerous  foe  which  has  ever  assailed  the  rights  of 
free  men  and  free  nations.  No  nation  in  this  war  has  had 
a  more  difficult  part  to  play  than  Italy,  and  nobly  have 
you  played  it. 

"  As  Chairman  of  the  American  Eed  Cross,  I  wish  to 
speak  of  that  organization,  but  I  do  so  with  some  hesita- 
tion and  diffidence,  fearing  that  some  of  you  might  inter- 
pret any  comment  that  I  may  make  upon  its  developments 
and  growth  and  the  work  it  has  accomplished  as  an  evi- 
dence of  pride  on  the  part  of  our  people.  But  I  beg  you 
to  give  no  consideration  to  such  thought,  as  it  is  neither 
in  the  hearts  nor  the  minds  of  the  American  people,  their 
attitude  being  one  of  complete  humility  in  their  endeavor 
through  our  organization,  the  American  Red  Cross.  It 
is,  however,  necessary  to  give  you  some  idea  of  the  organi- 
zation in  order  that  you  may  better  understand  the  char- 
acter of  the  message  which  I  bring  from  four  thousand 
miles  over  the  sea. 

"  One  year  ago  yesterday  the  United  States  declared 
war  on  Germany.     The  American  Eed  Cross  at  that  time 


66  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

had  a  membership  of  a  little  over  200,000  people.  To- 
day it  has  a  membership  of  over  22,000,000  people.  If  we 
include  the  children  of  the  schools,  who  are  junior 
members,  it  increases  the  total  membership  to  approxi- 
mately 33,000,000  people.  One  year  ago  to-day  the  or- 
ganization had,  throughout  the  country,  two  hundred 
chapters.  To-day,  including  chapters,  branches  and  auxil- 
iaries, the  organization  has  nearly  twenty-one  thousand 
subdivisions,  which  means  that  in  every  city,  town  and 
hamlet  in  the  United  States  there  is  to-day  a  Eed  Cross 
organization,  in  which  the  women  of  America  are  making 
surgical  dressings  and  knitting  into  various  articles  their 
heartfelt  love  and  sympathy. 

"  As  soon  as  we  were  able  to  effect  an  organization,  we 
dispatched  Commissions,  composed  of  distinguished,  rep- 
resentative American  men  to  France,  to  Italy,  to  England, 
to  Kussia,  to  Roumania,  and  to  Serbia.  It  may  not  be 
unnatural  for  you  to  ask:  'Why  did  the  American 
people  take  this  step  ? '  They  took  this  step  because  when 
the  United  States  Government  declared  war  upon  Ger- 
many it,  by  that  very  act,  acknowledged  that  the  war 
since  its  beginning  in  August,  1914,  had  been  for  the 
American  people  as  well  as  for  the  Allies  which  have  par- 
ticipated. There  are  no  new  principles  involved.  It  was 
the  same  war,  with  the  same  common  enemy,  and  there- 
fore the  fact  was  recognized  that  for  all  those  many  months 
previous  you  of  Italy  and  your  Allies  had  been  fighting 
and  bleeding  and  dying  for  us  as  well  as  for  yourselves. 
At  our  entrance  into  the  war  we  found  ourselves  totally 
unprepared  and  realized  that  it  must  of  necessity  be  a 
long  time  before  we  could  take  a  strong  position  in  the 
line.  But  we  also  realized  that,  pending  that  time, _  we 
could,  through  our  Commissions,  express  in  some  slight 
degree  our  appreciation  for  all  that  had  been  done,  and 
our  sympathy  and  our  desire  to  help  back  of  the  line 
in  such  a  manner  as  might  be  possible. 

"  I  come  to  you,  the  people  of  Italy,  under  the  direction 


AMERICA'S  DECLARATION  OF  WAR  6Y 

of  these  millions  of  American  men,  women  and  children, 
with  the  message  that  we  of  America  know  you  of  Italy. 
We  know  of  your  undaunted  courage,  of  your  valor,  of 
your  chivalry,  and  of  your  strength.  We  know  that  from 
your  incomparable  land  has  come  to  us  much  that  is 
beautiful  and  inspiring,  and  that  there  is  no  land  in  the 
world  more  beloved  and  admired  than  Italy  by  those 
Americans  who  have  had  the  fortune  to  be  received  within 
her  hospitable  borders.  We  ask,  may  we  through  my  col- 
league, Colonel  Perkins,  and  his  distinguished  associates, 
in  some  way  express  to  you  our  sentiments ;  may  we  do 
something  which  may  hearten  your  soldier;  may  we  do 
something  which  might,  in  some  degree,  hearten  and  en- 
courage his  family,  may  we  do  something  for  those  who 
have  been  ruthlessly  driven  away  from  their  homes,  where 
for  all  their  lives  they  have  been  following  their  avoca- 
tions, with  peace  and  good-will  toward  all  men  ?  This  we 
ask  you  to  permit  us  to  do,  not  by  way  of  charity,  but 
rather  as  a  slight  expression  of  our  feeling  of  admiration 
and  devotion  to  you.  On  behalf  of  our  people  I  thank  you 
for  the  spirit  in  which  you  have  received  Colonel  Perkins 
and  his  Commission,  and  may  I  say  that  if  the  American 
Red  Cross  shall  be  permitted,  within  your  country,  to  do 
any  work  which  shall  prove  a  comfort  to  your  people  we 
shall  indeed  be  grateful. 

"  I  am  confident  in  my  hope  that,  through  the  agency 
of  the  American  Eed  Cross,  there  will  be  established  a 
closer  relationship  between  your  people  and  ours,  and  if 
such  an  understanding  could  be  had  between  all  the  civil- 
ized peoples  of  the  world,  we  could  never  again  become 
involved  in  such  a  tragedy  as  is  now  shaking  the  earth  to 
its  very  foundation." 

There  were  other  speeches  including  one  in  Italian  by 
Congressman  La  Guardia.  Even  the  rain  which  fell  in 
quantities  towards  the  end  of  the  day  failed  to  drive  away 
the  crowd  or  dampen  its  enthusiasm.  It  was  a  memor- 
able gathering,  and  everyone  present  came  away  feeling 


68  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

that  America  and  Italy,  traditional  friends  ever  since 
America's  birth,  were  now  more  closely  united  than  ever 
before. 

It  must  not  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  so  far  men- 
tion has  been  made  only  of  the  work  with  the  civilian 
population  that  there  had  been  any  neglect  of  opportuni- 
ties for  the  various  forms  of  Eed  Cross  activity  that  deal 
directly  and  personally  with  the  soldier.  As  early  as 
ISTew  Year's  day,  1918,  gifts  which  had  been  prepared  at 
the  American  Church  in  Rome  under  the  auspices  of  the 
American  Relief  Clearing  House  were  distributed  to 
soldiers  in  the  First,  Third,  and  Fourth  Armies.  In 
January  a  workshop  was  opened  in  Rome  which  prepared 
in  all  over  100,000  packages  for  soldiers,  each  containing 
a  cake  of  chocolate,  a  pencil,  a  cake  of  soap,  an  American 
Red  Cross  post  card,  a  handkerchief  and  a  package  of  ciga- 
rettes. These  were  distributed  to  the  units  of  the  Italian 
army  designated  by  the  Military  authorities,  the  distribu- 
tion in  each  case  being  made  the  occasion  of  a  review  or 
of  some  other  military  ceremony.  And  there  were  many 
distributions  to  soldiers  on  the  lower  Piave,  in  the  cold 
winter  months,  of  much  needed  woolen  articles  of  cloth- 
ing. In  Venice  soldiers  on  leave  before  their  return  to 
the  front  were  regularly  given  warm  garments,  including 
sweaters,  socks,  and  gloves  —  an  average  of  3,000  a  month 
for  the  first  six  months  of  the  year.  And  there  were 
similar  distributions  on  a  smaller  scale  at  Taormina. 
ISTearly  two  hundred  gramophones  were  given  to  units  of 
the  Italian  Army  and  Navy,  which  proved  most  welcome 
to  the  fighting  men  of  this  music-loving  people.  And 
during  the  first  five  months  of  the  year  though  there  was 
relative  quiet  on  the  Italian  front,  our  ambulances  carried 
over  30,000  sick  and  wounded,  covering  in  all  260,000 
kilometers. 

A  chain  of  station  canteens  or  rest  houses  (Posti  di 
conforto  militari)  was  established  at  the  important  rail- 
way junctions  where  large  numbers  of  troops  had  to  wait 


AMERICA'S  DECLARATION  OF  WAR  69 

or  ciiange  trains.  These  reached  all  over  the  peninsula 
and  extended  even  to  Sicily  and  Sardinia.  Here  hot  soup, 
coffee,  lemonade  and  other  refreshments  were  given  to  the 
soldiers  free  or  at  a  nominal  charge  of  one  or  two  cents. 
Generally  there  was  a  room  for  rest  and  recreation 
equipped  with  a  gramophone  and  piano,  and  there  were 
postcards  and  letter  paper  and  places  to  write.  In  some 
instances  dormitories  with  hunks  and  haths  were  pro- 
vided. 

Each  of  the  station  canteens  had  its  unique  features. 
One  of  the  largest  and  most  successful  was  at  Ancona 
commodiously  housed  in  a  freight  shed  adjoining  the  sta- 
tion. It  had  begun  operations  in  November,  1917,  when 
refugees  in  large  numbers  were  pouring  south  along  the 
Adriatic,  serving  food  and  providing  for  their  comfort  in 
various  ways.  When  the  flood  of  refugees  subsided  it 
was  remodeled  and  made  over  to  serve  soldiers  on  the 
transport  trains  passing  to  and  from  the  front,  and  dur- 
ing the  period  of  its  management  by  the  Red  Cross  it 
entertained  over  six  hundred  thousand.  There  was  a 
large  central  mess  hall  so  arranged  with  four  long  cement 
counters  running  down  the  middle  that  one  thousand 
soldiers  could  be  fed  in  an  hour.  In  addition  to  the  writ- 
ing and  rest  room  for  the  soldiers  another  smaller  room 
was  reserved  for  the  use  of  officers.  Gay  with  flags  and 
flowers,  simply  but  cosily  furnished,  and  provided  with  a 
buffet,  it  ministered  to  the  comfort  of  Italian,  English, 
and  Erench  ofiicers  while  their  men  were  being  refreshed 
in  the  adjoining  hall,  and  proved  a  pleasant  bond  between 
these  comrades  in  arms. 

At  Milan  a  portion  of  the  freight  yards  by  the  station 
assigned  to  the  Red  Cross  for  canteen  use  was  converted 
into  a  most  attractive  place,  with  a  garden  bright  with 
flowers  and  vines,  a  fountain  and  benches,  giving  an  un- 
expected atmosphere  of  rest  and  beauty  amidst  sordid  sur- 
roundings. And  there  was  a  comfortable  reading,  writ- 
ing, and  lounging  room,  and  three  barracks  for  soldiers  to 


70  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

sleep  in,  and  shower  baths.  Walk  into  this  place  any  eve- 
ning during  the  spring  or  summer,  say  at  eleven  thirty,  the 
time  coffee  was  served  to  the  new  arrivals.  Quite  a  num- 
ber of  soldiers  are  already  in  line.  Passing  one  window 
they  get  their  coffee  and,  drinking  as  they  go,  move  on  to 
another  window  farther  along  where  the  cup  must  be  left, 
an  arrangement  found  desirable,  for  the  cups,  made  of 
empty  condensed  milk  cans,  are  much  coveted  by  the 
soldiers  and  apt  to  find  their  way  into  their  packs  as 
souvenirs.  Many  soldiers  are  lounging  in  the  pergola  try- 
ing to  fathom  the  beauties  of  American  ragtime  issuing 
from  the  ever  popular  gramophone.  "  You  Americans 
bring  us  everything,"  remarked  a  peasant  one  day  for 
whom  this  instrument  was  still  something  of  a  novelty, 
"  you  have  brought  us  canned  food  and  now  you  are 
bringing  us  canned  happiness."  Other  soldiers  may  be 
found  in  the  writing  room,  while  another  group  is 
gathered  about  the  piano  which  one  of  their  number  is 
playing.  Two  of  the  bunk  houses  are  already  filled  and 
a  third  soon  will  be,  for  the  next  troop  train  is  almost 
due.  And  so  it  went  every  day.  The  Milan  rest  house 
often  took  care  of  one  thousand  a  night,  some  of  them 
only  staying  a  few  hours  between  trains  so  that  the  same 
bunk  was  frequently  occupied  by  two  or  three  different 
soldiers  during  the  night. 

At  Naples  four  women  Red  Cross  workers  were  in. 
charg3  of  the  canteen,  which  was  in  a  large  tile  hut  con- 
nected with  the  station.  They  worked  in  relays  on  six 
hour  shifts,  so  that  the  "  Posto  "  was  open  continuously 
day  and  night.  The  cheer  of  their  presence  added  greatly 
to  the  popularity  of  this  canteen.  Here  is  an  extract 
from  a  report  made  by  one  of  them : 

"  During  my  shifts  this  week  the  number  of  soldiers 
has  been  so  great  that  it  was  impossible  to  talk  individually 
with  many  of  the  soldiers,  but  all  seemed  happy  to  enjoy 
the  soup  and  there  were  many  demands  for  a  second  help- 
ing, one  soldier  saying  to  me :     '  Sister,  I  told  my  com- 


AMERICA'S  DECLARATION  OF  WAR  71 

panions  that  wherever  they  saw  Posto  di  Conforto  Ameri- 
cano, they  would  always  find  good  food,  like  nothing  they 
had  before,'  and  he  added,  '  We  have  not  been  disap- 
pointed to-day.'  The  postcards  and  writing  paper  are  a 
great  joy,  especially  those  with  American  and  Italian  flags 
together.  When  I  asked  why  they  liked  them  better  than 
any  other  kind  they  answered :  '  You  see  it  shows  we  are 
friends  and  when  we  send  them  to  our  relations  every- 
one can  see  the  flag  of  the  American  nation  with  ours.'  " 
On  one  of  the  writing  tables  in  this  canteen  lay  a  guest 
book,  well  worn  from  much  handling  in  which  the  soldiers 
have  expressed  in  many  a  homely  phrase  their  enthusiasm 
for  their  American  ally  and  their  appreciation  of  the 
work  of  the  Red  Cross.  Once  in  a  while  a  soldier,  per- 
haps formerly  resident  in  America,  would  try  his  hand 
at  English,  with  mixed  results.  The  following  is  too  good 
not  to  quote :  After  expressing  the  wish  that  "  the  Ameri- 
can Stars  and  Stripes  may  bring  peace  in  the  world  "  he 
adds  "  Hurry  for  Uncle  Sam !  Hurry  for  Wilson ! 
Hurry  for  Italy  and  for  our  King  Victor  Emanuel  III." 
Perhaps  he  wrote  better  than  he  knew.  This  was 
written  at  a  time  when  hurrying  for  the  cause  of  liberty 
was  more  to  the  point  than  any  amount  of  hurrahing. 


CHAPTER  V 

Kollmg  Canteens  —  The  June  Offensive  —  A.  E.  C.  Ambulance 
Service  —  The  Story  of  Lieutenant  McKey 

The  Red  Cross  maintained  a  series  of  rolling  canteens 
scattered  along  the  Italian  front  in  the  mountains  and  on 
the  plains.  They  were  established  either  quite  near  the 
front  line  trenches  or  at  strategic  points  a  few  kilometers 
back  on  highways  where  troops  regularly  passed,  though 
rarely  so  far  away  as  to  be  beyond  the  danger  zone  of  shell 
fire.  The  officers  in  command  of  neighboring  troops  fre- 
quently permitted  their  men  to  leave  the  trenches  in  order 
that  they  might  spend  some  time  at  the  Red  Cross  can- 
teens, which  became  a  sort  of  soldiers'  club.  A  typical 
unit  consisted  of  a  small  hut  containing  the  quarters  of 
the  Red  Cross  Lieutenant  in  charge  and  also  the  store 
room,  and  a  large  hut  adjoining  which  contained  the 
kitchen  and  the  rest  room  for  the  use  of  the  soldiers. 
The  walls  of  this  room  were  attractively  decorated  with 
flags  and  posters  and  patriotic  inscriptions.  Scattered 
about  were  tables  with  writing  materials  and  magazines 
and  books.  Along  one  side  ran  a  counter  over  which  the 
soldiers  were  served  hot  coffee,  chocolate,  jam,  and  some- 
times soup.  The  jam  was  spread  thick  on  bread  which 
the  soldiers  brought  with  them,  a  special  treat  to  men 
so  long  deprived  of  sweets.  Candy,  cigarettes  and  cigars 
were  given  out.  Each  canteen  had  a  phonograph  with 
records  of  patriotic  airs  and  popular  songs,  and  two 
mandolins,  a  guitar  and  an  accordion  for  impromptu  con- 
certs, for  in  every  crowd  there  was  sure  to  be  a  goodly 

number  who  played  some  instrument  or  other.     And  when 

72 


KOLLING  CANTEENS  — THE  JUNE  OFFENSIVE   T3 

conditions   permitted   provision   was   made  for   out-door 
games,  especially  hocce  (Italian  bowls)  and  football. 

From  these  canteens  as  bases  supplies  were  regularly 
taken  by  camion,  mule,  motor-cycle  or  bicycle  to  the 
trenches  and  there  distributed  by  the  Red  Cross  officer 
in  person.  The  appearance  of  the  American  uniforms 
was  always  the  occasion  of  much  rejoicing,  not  merely  be- 
cause it  meant  something  to  eat  and  something  to  smoke, 
but  because  of  the  friendly  companionship,  the  jokes,  the 
words  of  cheer  and  encouragement,  in  short,  the  human 
touch  that  relieved  the  dull  routine  and  ruthless  brutal- 
ity of  life  in  the  trenches. 

The  canteens  were  attached  to  specific  regiments  which 
provided  the  necessary  soldier  helpers.  Each  was  in 
charge  of  a  Red  Cross  Lieutenant  and  the  duties  required 
of  him  were  such  as  to  tax  the  resources  of  the  most 
versatile  and  adaptable  temperament.  He  must  possess 
executive  ability,  courage  and  coolness  under  fire.  He 
must  have  a  gift  for  understanding  men  of  another  race. 
He  must  be  a  man's  man  and  a  knower  of  men  and  a  good 
mixer,  equally  successful  in  establishing  cordial  relations 
with  the  Italian  officers  and  in  making  friends  and  win- 
ning the  confidence  of  the  men  in  the  ranks.  There  was 
one  message  he  must  always  put  across  and  that  was  that  in 
contributing  to  the  rest  and  comfort  and  recreation  of  the 
soldiers  the  American  people  through  the  Red  Cross  were 
trying  to  express  their  gratitude  to  them  for  all  they  had 
done  and  endured  for  our  common  cause  during  the  three 
long  years  and  more  in  which  Italy  had  been  waging  war. 
Many  ties  of  friendship  were  formed  which  reached 
beyond  the  individual  Red  Cross  worker  to  the  "  gener- 
ous and  bountiful  America  "  (a  phrase  often  heard)  which 
he  represented.  The  popularity  of  the  rolling  canteens 
with  the  men  is  very  prettily  revealed  in  the  following 
word  picture  of  one  of  them  drawn  by  an  Italian  and 
published  in  the   Corriere  della  Sera: 

"  The  heat  is  merciless.     On  the  roadside  under  the 


T4  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

shade  of  a  cluster  of  trees  stands  a  hut  with  an  Italian 
flag  and  a  flag  showing  a  field  of  blue  with  stars  and  red 
and  white  stripes.  The  soldiers  crowd  the  place.  This 
is  a  rest  house  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  You  can 
find  many  of  these  close  to  the  lines,  at  points  of  heavy 
traffic  and  where  it  is  most  difficult  to  obtain  cool  drinks 
or  to  find  anything  to  eat.  Here  our  great  American  Ally 
brings  a  lot  of  good  things.  Here  they  place  a  table,  fix 
an  awning,  spread  the  Stars  and  Stripes  and  the  Italian 
flag,  and  here  they  stand  themselves,  smooth-shaven,  khaki- 
clad,  and  with  their  round  caps,  offering  every  good  thing 
in  God's  grace  to  the  passing  soldiers,  coffee,  cool  drinks, 
bread,  chocolate  as  we  once  knew  it,  and  crackers  that  we 
no  longer  are  accustomed  to.  A  real  providence,  and  the 
offering  is  made  with  such  good,  with  such  cordial  fra- 
ternity. The  soldiers  have  already  baptized  these  Rest 
Houses.  They  call  them  in  a  jocular  way  American  Bars 
and  when  from  afar  they  see  on  the  road  the  tri-color  and 
the  Stars  and  Stripes,  they  cry  '  Let  us  go  visit  America.'  " 
The  service  rendered  by  the  rolling  canteens  varied  ac- 
cording to  the  differing  conditions  determined  by  the  loca- 
tion of  the  posts.  One  of  these  canteens  was  situated  at  an 
Alpine  post  over  5000  feet  above  the  sea,  where  Italy  abuts 
on  Switzerland  and  Austria.  Its  attractive  quarters  in 
what  was  formerly  a  tourist  hotel  provided  a  most  wel- 
come and  popular  club  for  the  soldiers  stationed  at  Santa 
Catarina,  and  for  the  troops  continually  passing  to  or  from 
the  mountain  posts  beyond.  But  its  most  distinctive  serv- 
ice was  carrying  hot  coffee  and  other  comforts  to  the  sol- 
diers standing  guard  on  the  Alpine  frontier.  Nearly 
every  mountain  peak  had  its  quota  of  soldiers.  Many 
of  these  posts  could  only  be  reached  by  teleferica, 
and  the  Red  Cross  officers  with  their  supplies  would  be 
pulled  up  to  the  tops  of  the  peaks  in  wire  baskets 
suspended  to  a  single  cable,  sometimes  as  much  as  3000 
feet  in  length  and  running  almost  straight  up.  At  times 
the  supplies  were  carried  by  dog  teams,  and  occasionally 


ROLLING  CANTEENS  —  THE  JUNE  OFFENSIVE      75 

by  packs  where  hand  over  hand  work  was  necessary  in 
order  to  reach  the  soldiers  in  their  all  but  inaccessible 
heights.  Never  were  Red  Cross  gifts  more  welcome  than 
in  these  lonely  snowbound  posts.  The  following  extracts 
from  a  letter  written  by  the  officer  in  charge  of  this  canteen 
describes  one  of  these  trips : 

"  My  friend  and  I  had  the  pleasure  of  carrying  sup- 
plies two  days  ago  to  the  highest  trench  held  by  the  allied 
troops  in  all  the  war  zone  of  Europe.  It  was  on  a  moun- 
tain peak  some  thirty  miles  from  our  post.  We  were 
furnished  experienced  Alpine  guides  by  the  Colonel  in 
charge  and  climbed  to  a  ledge  11,500  feet  high  upon  which 
rested  the  little  lookout  post.  The  trip  from  the  foot  of 
the  mountain  took  four  hours.  We  were  in  the  snow  every 
foot  of  the  way.  On  this  climb  we  had  to  creep  through 
two  ice  tunnels,  one  being  over  one  thousand  feet  in  length. 
These  tunnels  are  necessary  for  the  soldiers  in  going  to 
and  from  their  posts  in  order  that  they  may  not  be  ex- 
posed to  Austrian  fire.  At  one  point  a  faulty  rock  forma- 
tion necessitated  our  leaving  the  first  tunnel  and  walking 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  before  darting  into  an- 
other. We  managed  this  in  single  file  at  intervals  of  about 
three  minutes.  Each  of  us  was  greeted  with  the  Austrian 
fire,  but  while  you  could  hear  the  bullets  distinctly,  I  only 
saw  one  strike  the  snow  and  that  some  twenty  feet  below. 
Finally  in  order  to  reach  our  destination  we  had  to  climb 
about  400  feet  up  a  practically  perpendicular  wall  of  ice 
and  hard  snow.  Of  course  we  were  tied  to  our  guides, 
eight  of  us  strung  to  a  single  rope,  and,  with  their  as- 
sistance, and  the  aid  of  our  ice  picks  we  eventually  landed 
on  the  ledge.  .  .  .  Perhaps  you  will  say  such  a  trip  as 
this  was  not  absolutely  necessary.  We  might  have  left 
the  supplies  with  the  Colonel  and  had  them  sent  on  by 
a  guide.  But  I  assure  you  that  our  presence  there  in  the 
distribution  added  much  which  the  Red  Cross  could  give 
in  no  other  way.  .  .  . 

"  To-morrow  morning  accompanied  by  a  guide  I  am 


76  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

taking  supplies  to  a  mountain  post  never  yet  visited  by  an 
American  and  the  Colonel  in  charge  has  sent  me  word  to 
be  sure  and  bring  an  American  flag.  ...  I  must  say 
that  in  Italy,  and  particularly  in  this  section,  the  Ameri- 
can nation  is  looked  up  to  in  a  manner  that  makes  you 
feel  very  proud  of  your  country  and  your  people." 

IsTear  one  of  the  canteens  on  the  Asiago  plateau  a  foot- 
ball field  was  established,  protected  from  the  view  of  the 
enemy  by  an  ingenious  camouflage  arrangement,  and  here 
teams  representing  English  and  Italian  troops  stationed  in 
the  vicinity  were  able  to  enjoy  open  air  sport  while  as- 
signed to  front  line  duty.  And  sometimes,  when  the 
Huns  were  momentarily  off  the  job,  and  a  good  game  was 
on,  several  thousand  soldiers  would  occupy  the  bleachers 
where  the  reserved  seats  were  the  edges  of  shell  craters. 

One  canteen  was  situated  in  a  very  busy  center  on 
Grappa.  The  soldiers  and  particularly  the  officers  were 
most  enthusiastic  over  its  establishment  and  constructed 
the  necessary  building  with  great  care.  The  Red  Cross 
officer  was  anxious  to  have  it  finished  in  a  hurry,  but  they 
insisted  on  making  it  a  solid  substantial  structure.  Its 
construction  was  under  the  direction  of  a  young  Italian 
lieutenant  for  whom  it  was  a  genuine  labor  of  love. 
Some  time  later  this  lieutenant  was  killed  by  the  explosion 
of  a  hand  grenade  when  he  was  bringing  in  some  prisoners. 
"  He  was  given  a  military  funeral." —  The  Red  Cross 
lieutenant  then  in  charge  is  telling  the  story  — "  All  the 
officers  attended,  and  as  we  were  coming  back  from  the 
funeral  they  all  stopped  at  our  kitchen  for  coffee  and  re- 
freshments. I  was  talking  with  the  officers  near  my  shack 
when  we  heard  an  exceptionally  loud  explosion  and  rushed 
forward  to  see  what  had  happened.  We  found  that  a 
shell  had  fallen  right  by  the  kitchen,  killing  five  and 
wounding  nine  of  these  soldiers.  It  was  a  terrible  sight 
and  it  made  the  war  seem  very  near,  and  I  could  not 
shake  off  the  feeling  of  responsibility,  because  if  I  had 
not  urged  these  men  to  stop  for  refreshments  they  would 


ROLLING  CANTEENS  — THE  JUNE  OFFENSIVE      77 

have  been  saved.     Shells  fell  very  frequently  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  that  kitchen." 

Seventeen  rolling  canteens  were  maintained  by  the 
American  Red  Cross,  and  by  the  time  summer  had  come 
they  were  serving  some  three  quarters  of  a  million  soldiers 
per  month.  Since  only  a  few  of  these  canteens  were 
reaching  the  same  men  more  than  once  a  week  it  is  evident 
that  the  influence  of  this  service  was  very  widespread.  Its 
most  important  work  was  done  during  the  long  periods 
of  relative  inaction,  for  that  is  when  the  war  most  gets  on 
the  nerves  of  the  men.  Perhaps  it  would  be  more  correct 
to  say  that  great  activity  changed  the  character  of  this 
service,  as  it  changed  everything  else. 

That  activity  came,  and  with  a  vengeance,  in  the  middle 
of  June  when  the  Austrians  launched  their  long  looked 
for  offensive.  It  was  the  supreme  effort  of  Austria.  All 
of  her  effective  fighting  forces,  seventy  of  her  ninety-two 
mobilized  divisions,  were  thro^vn  against  the  Italian  lines. 
The  order  issued  by  Field  Marshal  Boroevic,  commanding 
general  of  the  Austrian  forces,  reads :  "  Soldiers !  our  Em- 
peror and  King  to-day  from  the  Adriatic  to  the  Alps  with 
all  his  forces  launches  the  attack  upon  the  enemy  whose 
treason  has  made  the  war  last  so  long.  There  before  you 
lie  the  positions  of  the  adversary;  and  beyond,  glory, 
honor,  good  food  and  abundant  war  booty."  For  six 
months  Austria  had  been  preparing  for  this  offensive 
which,  it  was  confidently  expected,  was  to  mark  the  end 
of  the  war  against  Italy. 

The  order  of  the  day  issued  by  General  Conrad  von 
Hoetzendorf,  in  command  of  the  Austrian  troops  on  the 
mountain  front,  reads :  "  Soldiers !  for  months  and  months 
resisting  amidst  the  ice  and  snow  of  the  mountains,  ful- 
filling your  duty  during  the  terrible  storms  of  winter,  you 
have  looked  at  the  sunny  and  fertile  plains  of  Italy.  The 
moment  has  come  to  go  down  and  possess  them."  Aus- 
trian soldiers  taken  prisoner  described  the  battle  as  the 
"  Hunger  Offensive."     And  every  battalion  had  a  requisi- 


T8  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

tioning  section  and  definite  instructions  how  to  requisition 
all  food  along  the  road.  And  the  soldiers  had  been  urged 
forward  by  the  promise  of  booty  as  well  as  food.  Four 
large  empty  trunks  were  captured  which  one  Austrian 
officer,  who  had  already  enriched  himself  by  spoils  stolen 
from  the  Veneto  after  Caporetto,  had  sent  ahead  to  con- 
tain the  booty  he  expected  to  accumulate. 

In  the  early  dawn  of  the  15th  of  June  on  a  front  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  kilometers  stretching  from  the 
Astico  over  the  high  plateau  of  the  Asiago  and  Monte 
Grappa  to  the  Piave  and  along  the  Piave  to  the  sea,  the 
attack  began  with  a  furious  bombardment  by  the  Austrian 
artillery,  which  was  followed  up  by  a  rushing  assault  that 
carried  the  front  positions  of  the  Italians  almost  all  along 
the  line.  On  the  Asiago  the  British  promptly  recovered 
the  ground  they  had  lost,  inflicting  heavy  punishment  on 
the  enemy.  On  the  Grappa  the  battle  raged  with  special 
fury.  Fourteen  divisions  were  thrown  against  the 
Italians  at  this  point  in  the  determined  effort  to  carry 
this  height  which  was  the  one  barrier  that  prevented  the 
free  passage  of  the  Austrian  forces  down  the  valley  of  the 
Brenta  to  the  plains  of  the  western  Veneto.  The  lower 
mountains  of  the  Grappa  massif  more  than  once  changed 
hands.  The  Italian  position  was  precarious  in  the  ex- 
treme. General  Von  Hoetzendorf  thus  described  it  in  his 
order  to  his  troops :  "  The  Italians  are  like  men  hanging 
by  their  fingers  to  a  window  sill.  All  we  have  to  do  is  to 
smite  off  their  fingers  and  they  will  fall  down."  It  was  an 
accurate  description  of  the  Italians'  predicament.  But 
the  fingers  were  never  smitten  off.  The  lost  positions  were 
recovered,  and  after  two  days  of  terrible  slaughter  victory 
rested  with  the  Italians.  Grappa  once  more,  as  in  May, 
1916,  and  in  November,  1917,  had  saved  Italy  from  in- 
vasion from  the  north. 

On  the  Piave  line  the  Austrian  success  lasted  a  little 
longer.  Rapidly  carrying  the  front  line  trenches  by  gas 
attacks  and  liquid  fire  under  cover  of  artificial  fog,  the 


KOLLING  CANTEENS  —  THE  JUNE  OFFENSIVE      79 

Austrians  had  pushed  on  and  succeeded  in  occupying  half 
of  the  Montello,  a  long,  low,  flat-topped  hill  that  runs  along 
the  west  side  of  the  middle  Piave.  But  they  paid  dearly 
for  this  slight  and  short-lived  victory.  In  the  fierce  fight- 
ing that  followed,  the  Montello  became  a  very  shambles, 
thickly  strewn  with  Austrian  dead.  And  beyond  they 
could  not  go.  In  fact  the  Montello  might  well  be  called 
the  tomb  of  Austrian  hope. 

On  the  lower  Piave  the  Italians  were  pushed  back  a 
few  kilometers,  and  for  a  week  the  battle  raged,  the  line 
swinging  to  and  fro.     Here  the  fighting  was  on  the  flat 
farm  land  and  the  leaves  of  the  vines  and  trees  so  obscured 
the  vision  that  it  was  hard  to  tell  where  the  line  was  hold- 
ing and  where  giving  way.     Units  were  often  surrounded, 
and  many  deeds  of  bravery  are  recorded,  particularly  by 
the  intrepid  Arditi  and  the  bicycle  brigades  of  the  Ber- 
saglieri  whose  free  mobility  more  than  once  saved  the 
situation.     And    the     infantry    fought    valiantly.     The 
Italian  resistance  was  stubborn  and  aggressive,  often  tak- 
ing the  form  of  counter-attack.     Here  is  a  picture,  con- 
densed  from   the   statement   of   an   Italian   eye   witness, 
of    one    comer    of    the    battlefield :    "  It    was    Sunday 
morning  and  two  of  our  brigades  were  marching  to  the 
attack.     The  machine  guns  of  the  enemy  began  to  work. 
They  were  everywhere,  by  the  hundreds,  under  every  tree, 
hidden  behind  every  bush.     And  there  were  a  great  many 
wounded,  and  no  time  to  carry  them  back.     Ambulances 
were  asked  for,  but  they  had  to  come  there  under  fire,  into 
the  middle  of  the  fight.     And  they  came;   Italian  am- 
bulances, and  American  ambulances.     On  some  of  the  lat- 
ter was  the  legend,  '  Gift  of  American  Poets.'  "     And  had 
he  gone  a  little  nearer  he  might  have  seen  on  one  of  them 
on  a  small  brass  plate  over  the  driver's  seat,  "  In  memory  of 
Edith  Cavell,"  and  on  another,  on  a  similar  plate,  "  In 
honor  of  Theodore  Roosevelt." 

The  battle  of  the  Piave  was  the  ambulance  boys'  op- 
portunity,  and   they  made  the  most   of   it.     Night   and 


80  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

day  they  worked,  immindful  of  hunger  and  fatigue. 
Sometimes  the  run  was  over  steep  mountain  roads  cut 
in  the  side  of  a  precipice,  where  a  slight  mistake  would 
have  sent  the  car  and  its  occupants  over  the  brink  to  cer- 
tain death.  And  these  roads  were  narrow  and  always  con- 
gested with  the  grim  traffic  of  war.  Often  the  driver  must 
feel  his  way  along  in  the  dark,  for  lights  were  forbidden. 

Many  deeds  of  individual  daring  could  be  told :  —  how 
this  one  went  beyond  the  barbed  wire  that  had  been  thrown 
down  by  the  retreating  army  and  in  the  face  of  Austrian 
gun  fire  rescued  the  wounded  while  bullets  rained  around ; 
how  another  was  at  an  advanced  post  which  was  hit  by  an 
enemy  shell  that  demolished  part  of  the  house  and  covered 
his  ambulance,  and,  unable  to  extricate  it,  hurried  back 
for  another  and  returned  to  the  field  of  battle  to  continue 
his  work  of  mercy;  how  others  on  their  way  to  a  front 
post  where  the  fighting  was  furious  were  stopped  by  the 
military  police  who  said  it  was  fatal  to  go  further,  and, 
taking  advantage  of  a  moment's  inattention  on  the  part 
of  the  guard,  slipped  by  in  spite  of  the  warning,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  carrying  a  number  of  wounded  to  a  place  of 
safety, —  with  much  more  of  the  same  kind.  But,  after 
all,  this  is  simply  the  familiar  story  of  our  boys  every- 
where, on  every  front.  There  were  many  narrow  escapes 
from  death,  but  fortunately  the  casualties  were  few. 
Only  one  man  was  wounded  and  that  slightly,  and  one  had 
to  spend  some  time  in  the  hospital  as  the  result  of  a  gas 
attack. 

Letters  of  appreciation  were  received  from  the  different 
commands  expressing  admiration  for  the  dash  and  bravery 
of  the  young  Americans  and  for  the  efficiency  of  their 
work.  A  great  many  of  the  men  were  awarded  the  war 
cross  and  some  received  silver  or  bronze  medals  of  valor. 
But,  as  one  of  them,  himself  twice  decorated,  remarked: 
"  The  difference  the  decorations  imply  was  generally 
simply  a  difference  of  opportunity,  not  of  bravery  or  zeal." 
The  Eed  Cross  field  inspector  of  the  ambulance  service 


o 


»«"^' 


OS 

o 


—"llri^^sm 


ROLLING  CANTEENS  —  THE  JUNE  OFFENSIVE      81 

wrote :  "  It  is  a  pleasure  to  acknowledge  the  excellent  spirit 
and  quality  of  the  men  in  this  service,  both  officers  and 
drivers.  I  do  not  believe  that  a  finer  body  of  men  ever 
served  in  an  ambulance  organization.  The  men,  most  of 
whom  reached  the  front  for  the  first  time  just  prior  to 
the  offensive,  have  worked  with  the  greatest  willingness, 
courage  and  efficiency." 

There  were  four  American  Red  Cross  Ambulance  Sec- 
tions in  the  field  during  the  battle  of  the  Piave.  A  fifth 
was  soon  added,  bringing  the  total  number  of  ambulances 
up  to  one  hundred  and  four,  with  twenty-five  auxiliary 
motor  vehicles,  manned  by  an  American  personnel  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty-five  men.  During  the  entire  period 
of  active  service  in  Italy  our  ambulances  carried  148,224 
sick  and  wounded,  20,014  being  couches,  and  the  aggregate 
runs  amounted  to  1,050,907  kilometers.  The  enlistment 
of  the  original  personnel  in  this  service,  which  had  been 
recruited  in  France,  expired  in  May.  I^ineteen  re-en- 
listed ;  the  rest  left  to  enter  other  branches  of  service,  their 
places  being  taken  by  volunteers  recruited  during  the 
spring  in  America. 

For  a  week  the  battle  raged  on  the  Piave  Sector.  But 
the  Austrians,  though  using  all  their  resources,  were  un- 
able after  the  first  rush  to  make  further  headway  against 
the  stubborn  resistance  they  encountered.  Then  the  rains 
came,  and  the  Piave  was  in  flood,  and  communication  with 
their  base  was  at  many  points  interrupted.  On  the  22nd 
the  Austrians  began  to  fall  back,  and  the  following  day 
were  in  full  retreat,  leaving  behind  them  a  trail  of  desola- 
tion,—  trees  broken  down,  vegetation  burned,  houses  and 
cities  nothing  but  heaps  of  stones  and  smoking  ruins. 
The  great  offensive  had  ended  in  failure.  The  Italian 
Army,  with  the  help  of  the  allied  divisions  on  the  plateau 
of  the  Asiago,  had  defeated  the  entire  army  of  Austria. 
Moreover,  the  victory  of  the  Piave  was  the  beginning  of 
the  end  of  the  dual  monarchy. 

In  the  opening  days  of  July  a  sharp  counter-offensive 


S2  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

was  started  by  the  Italians  in  the  marsh  land  on  the  delta 
between  the  old  and  the  new  Piave.  After  five  days  of 
fierce  fighting  in  water  and  mud,  always  advancing,  the 
last  resistance  of  the  enemy  was  broken,  and  the  entire 
line  of  the  Piave  was  in  Italian  hands. 

Shortly  after  the  Austrian  offensive  had  broken  out, 
through  the  prompt  work  of  the  American  Ked  Cross  dele- 
gate at  Venice  and  with  the  active  cooperation  of  the 
American  Consul,  Mr.  B.  Harvey  Carroll,  Jr.,  seven 
emergency  canteens  were  established  on  the  lower  Piave 
and  put  in  charge  of  ambulance  men  as  yet  unassigned. 
Sometimes,  as  the  fortunes  of  battle  swayed,  the  position 
of  a  canteen  became  untenable  and  a  new  location  had  to 
be  found.  But  throughout  the  fight  they  continued  to  sup- 
ply the  long  dusty  lines  of  marching  men  with  articles 
of  comfort  and  sustenance,  chocolate,  coffee,  cigarettes  and 
the  inevitable  toscana  —  little  things  that  mean  so  much  to 
soldiers  whose  nerves  are  racked  by  the  inferno  of  a  sus- 
tained attack.  The  genuine  depth  of  feeling  with  which 
the  "  Viva  Americas  "  were  given,  to  the  accompaniment  of 
the  booming  cannon,  when  the  hot  food  had  been  consumed 
was  at  once  the  Eed  Cross  worker's  inspiration  and  re- 
ward. 

The  first  rolling  canteen  that  the  Red  Cross  put  in  the 
field  was  taken  out  about  the  first  of  March  by  Lieutenant 
Edward  McKey,  a  New  York  portrait  painter,  whose  poor 
health  had  disqualified  him  for  military  service.  He 
threw  himseK  into  this  Red  Cross  work  with  the  greatest 
enthusiasm,  and  in  his  difficult  mountain  post  his  courage 
and  tact  and  cheerful  friendliness  immediately  won  the 
love  and  respect  of  the  soldiers  and  the  officers  with  whom 
he  worked. 

The  original  plan  had  been  to  have  the  rolling  canteens 
towed  along  just  back  of  the  lines  in  order  to  better  serve 
the  soldiers  in  the  trenches,  and  the  kitchen  trailers  had 
been  designed  by  McKey  himself  with  this  end  in  view. 
However,  this  plan  did  not  prove  feasible  in  the  difficult 


ROLLING  CANTEENS  — THE  JUNE  OFFENSIVE      88 

mountain  roads  and  the  canteens  became  more  or  less 
stationary  posts  from  which  supplies  were  carried  forward 
to  the  trenches  by  whatever  means  were  available,  so 
McKey  determined,  in  June,  in  anticipation  of  the  Aus- 
trian offensive,  to  move  his  kitchen  to  the  flatter  field 
near  the  Piave  in  order  to  try  out  the  plan  as  originally 
conceived.  The  young  Italian  lieutenant  who  accom- 
panied him  to  his  new  post  tells  this  story  of  the  trip: 
"  The  day  was  very  warm,  and  the  way  was  long,  and 
the  country  through  which  we  went  flat  and  lacking  in- 
terest, and  we  fell  into  conversation.  I  don't  remember 
any  conversation  so  interesting.  He  had  a  most  pictorial 
style.  We  talked  of  all  sorts  of  things, —  Italian  history, 
church  painting,  and  the  influence  of  religion  in  art,  the 
Cappucine  monks,  and,  somehow,  that  brought  us  to  the 
Red  Cross :  '  I  never  carried  a  weapon,'  he  said,  '  and  I 
think  that  is  the  spirit  of  the  Red  Cross.  We  have  lost 
some  of  the  spirit  that  inspired  the  Red  Cross  in  its  in- 
ception. We  look  too  much  to  ranks,  make  too  much  of 
military  organization.  The  Red  Cross  was  born  as  a 
protest  against  war  and  its  brutalities.  Our  task  is  to 
wipe  away  the  blood  of  the  wounded  and  to  spread  the 
spirit  of  fellowship.  The  true  symbol  of  the  Red  Cross 
is  not  the  Sam  Browne  Belt,  but  the  rope  of  the  Cappucine. 
Yes,  that  should  be  our  uniform.  We  should  have  the 
same  spirit  as  those  men  who  in  the  Middle  Ages  went  out 
to  preach  to  the  poor ' —  and  so  he  went  on  talking  and 
planning  for  his  work  on  the  Piave,  drawing  inspiration 
from  history  and  art,  from  men  and  nature.  Everything 
seemed  to  come  to  life,  to  take  on  fresh  significance, 
through  the  touch  of  his  artistic  soul.  .  .  .  When  we 
reached  Pralunga  he  received  a  warm  welcome  at  Head- 
quarters. He  was  shown  to  the  small,  broken  down  house 
that  had  been  chosen  as  his  headquarters.  It  was  on  the 
cross-roads,  between  Fornaci  and  Fossalta,  not  far  from 
the  Piave.  '  Quite  a  strategic  point,'  said  McKey ;  '  I  shall 
go  to  the  trenches  every  day  to  make  my  distribution  in 


84  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

view  of  the  Austrian  vedette/  And  there  I  left  him  bus;; 
making  ready  his  canteen,  and  in  high  spirits  over  the  op 
portunity  for  service." 

In  a  letter  sent  to  a  friend  a  day  or  two  later  McKe;; 
thus  describes  his  new  post :  "  Every  facility  is  given  me 
and  in  a  few  days  my  canteen  will  be  running.  I  shal 
start  before  the  house  is  quite  complete,  as  they  are  anx 
ious  for  me  to  get  under  way.  I  am  lunching  and  dining 
at  the  Divisione,  where  they  are  most  kind  and  give  me  i 
horse  and  cart  each  day  to  go  to  my  work.  You  cai 
imagine  I  make  no  demands  or  requests  except  those  en 
tirely  necessary  for  my  work,  and,  in  fact,  I  have  rarel;; 
had  to  ask  for  anything  as  everything  has  been  done  foi 
me.  I  spent  my  first  morning  with  the  Colonel  in  the 
lines  to  see  my  posts  and  the  street  where  I  am  to  work 
There  is  wonderful  work  there  and  I  see  a  great  op 
portunity.  I  think,  however,  there  is  danger  of  losing 
the  outfit  with  a  shell.  The  street  is  shelled  constanth 
and  during  the  time,  about  an  hour,  in  which  we  were  ii 
the  line,  some  fifty  shells  came  over,  striking  in  or  neai 
the  street.  I  have,  however,  found  several  spots  int( 
which  I  can  crawl  and  be  quite  safe." 

Before  this  letter  reached  its  destination.  Lieutenant  Mc 
Key  had  made  the  supreme  sacrifice.  On  June  16  in  th( 
neighborhood  of  Fossalta,  he  was  consulting  with  Captair 
Colabattisti,  who  was  in  command  of  a  field  battery,  as  tc 
where  to  place  his  canteen  in  order  to  best  serve  refresh 
ments  to  the  men.  The  place  was  being  heavily  shellec 
by  the  enemy  and  there  was  little  ground  suitable  for  th( 
purpose.  However,  a  place  was  selected  and  then  for  i 
few  moments  they  discussed  the  progress  of  the  battle 
"  The  fine  qualities  displayed  by  our  men,"  to  quote  th( 
Captain,  "  so  aroused  McKey  that  he  gave  free  vent  to  his 
enthusiasm:  'How  splendidly  the  Italians  are  fighting! 
he  exclaimed."  Those  were  the  last  words  he  uttered,  foi 
just  then  an  Austrian  shell  exploded  at  their  side,  kill 
ing  him  instantly  and  at  the  same  time  seriously  wound 


ROLLING  CANTEENS  — THE  JUNE  OFFENSIVE      85 

ing  Captain  Colabattisti.  He  was  buried  the  next  day, 
his  grave  marked  by  a  plain  wooden  cross  inscribed  with 
his  name  and  rank,  like  the  rows  of  Italian  graves  beside 
him.  A  small  American  flag  was  placed  beside  the  cross, 
and  throughout  the  battle  his  Italian  friends  kept  fresh 
flowers  on  the  grave.  Scarcely  had  the  armistice  been 
signed,  however,  before  the  Italian  authorities  erected  a 
headstone,  on  which  are  the  crossed  flags  of  Italy  and 
America,  with  an  inscription  below  in  memory  of  the 
young  lieutenant  whose  death  was  the  blood  pledge  of  the 
friendship  of  the  two  countries. 

This  story  has  been  told  at  some  length  because  in  the 
manner  of  his  tragic  death  as  in  his  life  McKey  so  per- 
fectly represented  the  spirit  which  was  the  inspiration  of 
the  rolling  canteen  service  and  the  secret  of  its  success. 
His  last  words  express  the  verdict  shared  by  all  the  Red 
Cross  men  whose  experiences  during  those  stormy  days 
in  June  qualified  them  to  speak :  —  shared  too,  however 
reluctantly,  by  the  enemy.  An  Austrian  ofiicer,  taken 
prisoner,  declared :  "  After  the  first  day  we  knew  that  we 
were  beaten.  We  never  expected  to  meet  such  spirited  re- 
sistance." And,  in  fact,  the  Austrians  had  confidently  ex- 
pected to  capture  Venice  within  forty-eight  hours,  and,  in 
anticipation  of  this  victory,  had  had  leaden  medals  made 
representing  the  Austrian  eagle  about  to  pluck  out  the  eyes 
of  the  Lion  of  St.  Mark.  Perhaps  the  designer  had 
prophetic  vision:  the  eagle  looks  more  like  an  obscene 
vulture  than  like  the  king  of  birds ;  and  the  lion  is  most 
calm  and  unperturbed,  as  if  he  too  were  observing :  "  How 
splendidly  the  Italians  are  fighting !  " 


CHAPTEE  VI 

Surgical  Dressings  —  Hospital  Supplies  —  Hospitals  —  Dis- 
pensaries—Fighting Spanish  Fever  — Child  Welfare  Work 
—  Summer  Colonies 

We  are  justly  proud  of  the  record  that  America  made 
in  the  great  war  when  once  she  got  under  way.  But  what 
is  unique  in  that  record  is  not  the  tremendous  energy  put 
into  our  military  preparations,  nor  even  the  splendid  con- 
duct of  our  soldiers,  clean,  strong,  upstanding  men  whose 
intelligence,  dash^  and  daring  called  forth  universal  ad- 
miration, but  rather  the  way  in  which  all  America  en- 
listed for  service.  We  showed  for  the  first  time  in  history 
how  a  democracy  makes  war.  The  people  willed  it  and 
the  people  waged  it.  Universal  were  the  contributions  to 
Liberty  Loans  and  to  the  various  welfare  organizations; 
everywhere  without  the  compulsion  of  law  the  people  gladly 
accepted  and  put  into  force  the  recommendations  of  the 
Food  Administration  for  the  conservation  of  food;  and 
everywhere,  men  whose  normal  occupation  did  not  contri- 
bute to  the  war  and  who  were  ineligible  for  military  duty, 
women,  and  even  children,  eagerly  sought  some  way  in 
which  they  might  individually  volunteer  for  service.  No 
more  striking  illustration  of  this  spirit  can  be  found  than 
in  the  mobilization  of  the  women  of  America  for  Eed  Cross 
work  until  an  army  of  many  millions  had  been  mustered 
with  chapters  or  auxiliary  groups  in  every  town.  It  is  a 
big  story,  yet  one  that  is  briefly  told.  Describe  the  chap- 
ter in  your  own  town  and  the  chances  are  that  you  have 
described  them  all.  The  rest  is  figures.  It  is  very  much 
the  same  when  one  attempts  to  trace  the  course  of  their 
handiwork  on  reaching  its  destination.     That  story  also 

86 


HOSPITALS  — DISPENSARIES  87 

is  briefly  told.  The  rest  is  figures.  Chapter  boxes  ar- 
rived in  Italy  by  the  thousands.^  At  first  they  were  all 
sent  to  Kome.  Later  seven  other  warehouses  were  estab- 
lished at  different  points,  chosen  so  that  the  largest  sup- 
ply of  dressings  might  be  distributed  with  the  least  possible 
delay  in  the  event  of  a  crisis.  Had  you  entered  any  one 
of  these  warehouses  you  might  have  seen  all  parts  of 
the  country  represented  —  Seattle  rubbing  elbows  with 
New  Haven,  Boston  resting  on  ISTew  Orleans.  It  almost 
seemed  as  if  every  box  had  come  from  a  different  chapter, 
so  that  in  very  truth  it  might  be  said  that  loyal  and  loving 
hands  all  over  America  were  stretched  out  to  help  bind  up 
the  wounds  of  our  soldiers  and  the  soldiers  of  our  valiant 
allies. 

In  connection  with  seven  of  these  warehouses  were  surgi- 
cal dressings  bureaus.  Here  the  boxes  were  opened  and 
the  dressings,  white  and  spotless  as  when  they  left  the 
home  chapter,  were  sorted  and  piled  on  shelves,  or  stored 
in  bins,  and  sometimes  remodeled  to  meet  Italian  usage. 
From  these  centers  they  were  distributed  until  every  hos- 
pital was  fully  supplied.  In  one  of  these  bureaus,  in  an- 
ticipation of  the  Italian  offensive  in  October,  the  necessary 
assorted  supplies  sufficient  to  care  for  fifty  thousand 
wounded  were  packed  and  ready  for  immediate  emergency 
distribution.  And  these,  when  the  offensive  came,  were 
hurried  in  camions  to  places  of  need.  The  sudden  ending 
of  the  war  left  a  large  stock  still  on  hand.  After  the 
needs  of  the  redeemed  districts  and  the  devastated  areas 
had  been  cared  for,  the  surplus  was  sent  forward  to  Poland 
and  other  countries  farther  east. 

The  first  thing  to  get  clearly  in  mind  is  the  absolute 
difference  between  the  work  in  Italy  and  that  in  France. 

1  The  Chapter  Boxes  shipped  to  the  American  Red  Cross  Commis- 
sion in  Italy  durinj^  the  year  1918  contained:  Surgical  Dressings, 
66,507,536;  Hospital  Supplies,  2,112,609;  Hospital  Garments,  2,505,- 
946;  Refugee  Garments,  273,394;  Articles  for  Sailors  and  Soldiers, 
452,802;  with  a  total  value  of  $8,212,336.26. 


88  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

In  Italy  the  need  was  not  hospitals,  but  supplies.  When 
the  American  Red  Cross  came  to  Italy  shortly  after  the 
disaster  of  Caporetto,  the  Italians  had  just  lost  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  hospital  beds,  with  all  that  that 
implies  in  the  way  of  equipment,  and  also  two  main  field 
magazines  of  the  Sanitary  Service,  which  had  been  the 
source  of  reserve  supplies  for  the  hospitals  of  the  war 
zone.  While  of  course  the  Red  Cross  could  not  replace 
all  that  had  been  lost,  it  did  replace  a  good  part,  especially 
supplying  such  needs  as  could  not  be  met  in  Italy  —  sur- 
gical instruments,  auto-claves,  rubber  goods,  etc. 

With  hospitals  Italy  was  still  plentifully  supplied. 
These,  however,  had  often  been  improvised  in  school  build- 
ings or  private  villas,  and  many  of  the  smaller  military 
hospitals  hastily  constructed  were  in  want  of  the  most  es- 
sential articles.  In  some  cases  the  American  Red  Cross 
supplied  the  entire  outfit,  and  more  than  once  a  Director 
has  been  heard  to  say  that,  thanks  to  it,  he  had  been  able  to 
continue  his  work,  as  it  had  been  all  but  impossible  to  ob- 
tain the  necessary  supplies  from  other  sources. 

Inspectors  were  sent  to  the  hospitals  to  investigate  and 
discover  their  needs.  Generally  these  visits  were  more 
than  formal  inspections.  "  I  always  made  a  point,"  said 
one,  "  of  going  through  the  wards  and  conversing  with  the 
wounded  who  were  able  to  talk.  They  were  always  glad  to 
see  the  American  uniform  and  a  few  cheerful  words  about 
themselves  and  their  families  never  failed  to  bring  a  re- 
sponse, and  their  touching  gratitude  for  small  favors  and 
their  courage  in  their  sufferings  more  than  once  brought 
tears  to  the  eyes.  The  blind  soldiers  were,  as  a  rule,  the 
most  pathetic.  Wlien  they  first  enter  the  hospitals  they 
are  utterly  depressed  and  indifferent  to  life,  but  soon  they 
begin  to  learn  some  trade  and  before  many  months  have 
passed  become  quite  expert  at  it,  producing  work  equal  to 
any  done  by  regular  artisans.  Then  I  always  found  them 
happy  and  contented,  singing  and  joking  with  their  neigh- 
bors while  at  their  work  in  spite  of  their  affliction."     And 


HOSPITALS  —  DISPENSARIES  89 

so  as  our  inspectors  went  on  their  rounds  they  continually 
created  fresh  ties  of  friendship  which  will  long  survive 
the  war. 

Sometimes  the  method  of  procedure  was  slightly  dif- 
ferent. Instead  of  sending  inspectors  first,  the  officers  in 
charge  of  the  Sanitary  Service  would  be  invited  to  visit 
the  warehouse  at  Padua  or  at  Bologna,  where  in  a  large 
room  might  be  found  a  complete  exhibit  of  all  the  articles 
which  the  Eed  Cross  was  ready  to  supply,  a  goodly  and 
tempting  array.  They  were  then  asked  to  send  in  their 
lists,  which  were  later  checked  up,  and  the  needs  invariably 
supplied. 

At  first  there  was  some  diffidence  on  the  part  of  the 
authorities  in  making  known  their  wants.  For  the 
Italians  are  proud  and  sensitive  and  scorn  charity.  They 
would  even  resort  to  window  dressing  in  order  to  appear 
better  off  than  they  were  when  our  inspectors  arrived. 
But  our  Eed  Cross  workers  soon  made  it  plain  that  their 
aid  was  no  more  charity  than  the  aid  which  our  soldiers 
were  giving  in  the  line.  The  assistance  of  the  Red  Cross 
was  just  one  of  America's  ways  of  trying  to  catch  up,  try- 
ing to  pay  some  of  the  debt  we  owed  to  those  who  had 
already  been  fighting  and  suffering  for  us  for  three  long 
years.  And  then  their  attitude  changed  and  they  gladly 
received  our  aid  in  the  spirit  in  which  it  was  given. 

In  all  over  two  thousand  hospitals  were  aided,  many  of 
them  two  or  three  times.  The  range  of  articles  furnished 
covered  all  conceivable  hospital  supplies  —  dressings, 
drugs,  medicines,  disinfectants,  surgical  instruments  and 
appliances,  operating  room,  radiographic  and  laboratory 
supplies,  rubber  goods,  hospital  furniture,  kitchen  and 
dining  room  utensils,  hospital  clothing,  linen,  and  even 
food  stuffs,  in  fact  anything  which  goes  to  maintain  and 
equip  a  hospital,  from  a  towel  to  a  complete  radiographic 
apparatus  or  an  ambulance,  from  a  silver  probe  to  a  ton  of 
ether.  When  the  Red  Cross  had  not  the  desired  article  in 
stock  it  was  purchased. 


90  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

The  significance  of  this  work  is  out  of  all  proportion  to 
the  brevity  of  the  tale.  Would  you  have  a  nearer 
view,  accompany  one  of  our  field  delegates  in  the  early 
part  of  1918  on  a  trip  of  inspection  to  the  mountain  front. 
Plodding  along  a  road  continually  shelled  and  hugging  the 
mountain  side  for  protection,  with  a  heavy  load  of 
cigarettes,  matches,  and  chocolate  on  his  back,  he  stops 
to  rest  awhile  with  the  picket.  But  let  him  tell  his  own 
story :  "  It  is  nearly  midnight  and  the  picket  has  had 
nothing  to  eat  since  ten  in  the  morning,  for  it  is  difficult 
to  get  rations  up  a  road  that  is  being  shelled  so  heavily. 
He  does  not  smoke  cigarettes.  I  must  remember  to  bring 
some  toscana  cigars  next  time  for  these  old  territorials. 
I  gave  him  some  chocolate,  but  a  cigar  would  have  been 
the  right  thing.  Going  on,  I  reach  the  steeper  part  of 
the  mountain  where  mules  are  unable  to  advance.  Long 
files  of  soldiers  are  going  up.  Young  boys  are  carrying 
heavy  boxes  of  ammunition  swung  on  a  pole,  helping 
themselves  up  on  their  knees.  Soldiers  are  coming  down, 
some  carrying  the  dead,  as  in  a  hammock,  others  helping 
their  limp  and  wounded  companions  dovni  the  difficult 
mountain  path.  Here  are  the  trenches  the  Italians  were 
in  yesterday,  right  under  a  steep  cliff.  Forty  feet  higher 
the  Austrians  were  on  top.  It  seems  impossible  that  the 
Italians  could  have  carried  the  position.  I  help  myself 
up  with  a  rope  ladder.  On  the  top  an  action  is  going 
on  one  hundred  yards  away  and  it  is  best  for  me  to  sit 
down  in  the  old  Austrian  trench.  My  Lord,  how  dirty  it 
is !  The  Italian  trenches  were  not  exactly  American  bath- 
rooms, but  this  Austrian  trench  is  filthy.  The  Italians 
are  moving  forward;  shells  are  whizzing  overhead;  the 
small  trench  mortars  make  a  tremendous  noise  and  the 
reports  of  the  machine  guns  and  mortars  are  continuous. 
In  the  bright  moonlight  I  can  see  the  soldiers  run  across 
a  narrow  field  and  throw  themselves  down  in  what  would 
be  the  new  Italian  trench.  Dead  Austrians  are  lying  all 
around.     Daylight  comes,  and  it  seems  strange  to  see  the 


HOSPITALS  —  DISPENSARIES  91 

little  pink  clouds  sailing  peacefully  over  such  desolation. 
For  a  time  the  bombardment  stops,  and  then  you  can  hear 
voices  floating  up  from  below  in  the  crisp  mountain  air. 
Two  big  shells  strike  on  the  mountain  to  the  left,  their 
smoke  covering  half  of  the  peak.  Evidently  no  harm  has 
been  done  for  you  soon  hear  the  clear  Italian  voices  sing- 
ing out.  ISTow  there  is  nothing  to  do  but  sit  in  as  well 
protected  a  spot  as  possible  and  wait  for  the  night.  When 
it  is  quiet,  we  can  hear  the  Italians  and  the  Austrians  at 
the  same  time  picking  in  the  rocks  to  deepen  their  trenches. 
Some  Austrian  prisoners  are  brought  in.  The  Viennese 
is  surly.  When  he  finds  that  I  am  an  American  he  seems 
surprised  and  exclaims  '  Ach!  Amerikanisch.  But  we 
have  whipped  the  Russians,  and  you  are  too  late.'  A 
young  Sard  is  wounded.  I  make  myself  useful  carrying 
him  down  to  the  first  aid  station.  This  is  a  gallery  thirty 
feet  deep  cut  into  the  mountain  side.  Here  his  wounds 
are  dressed.  The  wounded  in  the  gallery  are  all  serious 
cases.  They  moan  and  cry  for  something  to  drink.  It  is 
only  possible  to  wipe  their  mouths  with  lemon  juice  and 
water.  One  fine  Alpino  is  lying  on  his  face  horribly 
mangled  and  bleeding  profusely.  Two  young  fellows  have 
lost  their  minds  and  are  tied  to  stretchers.  One  still  be- 
lieves himself  to  be  in  battle  and  yells  continually 
'  Avanti!  Avanti!'  Leaving  this  gallery  of  horrors  I 
carry  my  wovmded  Sard  down  a  dangerous  and  narrow 
pathway,  sometimes  over  thin  boards  thrown  across  gaps 
where  shells  have  dropped,  where  a  false  step  or  break 
in  the  board  would  mean  a  fall  of  a  thousand  feet.  At 
the  clearing  station  his  wounds  are  again  carefully  dressed 
and  anti-tetanus  serum  is  injected.  Then  we  are  packed 
with  ten  others  in  an  ambulance  and  taken  to  the  field 
hospital.  But  the  hospital  is  full.  There  are  wounded 
lying  in  the  corridors.  So  we  are  sent  on  to  another  clear- 
ing hospital  where  my  soldier  has  something  to  eat.  At 
eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  we  are  on  a  train  with  two 
hundred  wounded  bound  for  Vicenza.     It  takes  five  weary 


92  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

hours  to  go  that  twenty  miles,  and  the  wounded,  especially 
susceptible  to  oold  from  loss  of  blood,  are  without  over- 
coats or  blankets. —  You  may  be  sure  I  arranged  to  hare 
Ked  Cross  blankets  on  that  train  thereafter. —  Finally  I 
get  my  wounded  Sardinian  to  bed  in  the  hospital  at 
Vicenza.  He  had  never  once  complained,  and  I  shall 
always  remember  his  short-cropped  bushy  head  against  my 
cheek  as  I  carried  him  down  that  mountain  side.  More 
and  more,  I  visited  these  first  aid  stations,  and  to  all  of 
them  the  Red  Cross  was  able  to  send  quantities  of  articles 
that  were  needed. 

"  Some  months  later,  on  the  29th  of  June,  I  was  on  the 
Val  Bello.  The  Italians  had  retaken  this  mountain  after 
losing  it  on  the  15th.  The  Austrians  had  been  surprised 
and  not  knowing  what  was  coming  were  shelling  the  line 
some  half  a  mile  back  of  the  trenches  they  had  lost,  and 
the  stretcher  bearers  were  having  exciting  runs  over  this 
shelled  district.  An  Austrian  machine  gun  five  hundred 
yards  to  the  right  was  taking  heavy  toll  of  the  men  who 
went  through  the  last  stretch  of  communicating  trenches 
before  reaching  Yal  Bello.     Here  I  chanced  upon  an  old 

acquaintance.  Corporal  M ,  wounded,  and  so  covered 

with  mud  that  I  did  not  recognize  him,  but  he  knew  me. 
There  were  no  stretcher  bearers  at  hand,  but  with  my  aid 
and  the  help  of  a  stick  he  managed  to  reach  the  first  aid 
station  where  his  wounds  were  dressed  and  bandaged,  I 
noticed  with  pride,  wi<th  American  Red  Cross  dressings. 
Then  we  had  no  fun  in  getting  across  the  two  hundred 
yards  of  shelled  road.  But  we  finally  reached  the  clearing 
station  and  there  he  was  taken  by  ambulance  to  the  ad- 
vanced Field  Hospital,  which  was  under  the  direction  of 

Professor  R and,  four  hours  after  being  wounded,  was 

comfortably  in  bed.  How  smoothly  everything  was  work- 
ing now !  What  a  contrast  to  the  condition  in  the  early 
part  of  the  year!  I  came  back  that  night  to  see  how  he 

was.     Prof.  R was  still  in  his  operating  room  and 

appeared  very  tired.     He  and  his  assistant  surgeons  had 


HOSPITALS  —  DISPENSARIES  93 

performed  one  hundred  operations  that  day,  most  of  them 
very  serious,  abdominal  and  cranial  wounds.  But  he 
stopped  long  enough  to  say  to  me :  '  We  are  able  to  do  all 
of  this  work  because  the  American  Red  Cross  has  helped 
us  so  much  —  these  rubber  gloves,  this  rubber  tubing, 
these  bandages  are  all  yours.  I  can  never  thank  you 
Americans  enough.' 

"  How  often  have  I  heard  from  the  officers :  '  You  have 
made  our  work  easier  and  better.  Your  ambulances  al- 
ways instantly  answer  any  call;  and  in  our  hospitals 
should  a  thermometer  be  broken,  should  we  need  instru- 
ments, dressings,  sheets,  shirts,  anything,  the  American 
Red  Cross  has  come  to  our  aid  immediately  and  without 
any  red  tape.'  " 

Several  large  gifts  of  sanitary  materials  were  made  di- 
rectly to  the  Sanitary  Service  of  the  army  comprising 
medical  and  surgical  equipment  and  all  manner  of  hospital 
supplies;  two  auto-ambulances  were  given  to  this  service 
and  two  camions  to  complete  the  standard  type  field  hos- 
pital of  fifty  beds,  the  equipment  for  which  had  already 
been  donated  by  the  Temporary  Commission.  A  large 
number  of  portable  disinfecting  machines  and  potabilizers 
were  given  directly  to  them.  And  four  laboratories  were 
equipped  with  modern  technical  apparatus  for  the  experi- 
mental study  of  certain  prevalent  diseases. 

Individual  hospitals  for  the  care  of  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  were  given  special  assistance.  For  example,  one 
hospital  was  found  without  adequate  water  supply  and  the 
Red  Cross  took  care  of  this ;  in  another  there  was  no  place 
for  persons  to  go  when  convalescing  and  the  Red  Cross 
constructed  a  recreatorio ;  a  clinical  laboratory  was  sup- 
plied to  a  large  tuberculosis  hospital  at  Forte  Tiburtino 
just  outside  the  city  of  Rome.  And  so  it  went.  These 
were  all  insignificant  things  in  comparison  with  the  great 
work  the  Italians  were  doing,  but  it  was  a  source  of  satis- 
faction to  be  privileged  to  contribute  even  in  a  small  way 
towards  the  care  and  comfort  of  these  special  victims  of 


94  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

the  war.     Perhaps  the  saddest  of  these  victims  were  the 
returned  tubercular  prisoners.     Every  week  a  trainload 
of  these  prisoners   arrived   at  the  Forte   Tiburtino  hos- 
pital.    They   were  sent  back  by  Austria,   and  were   all 
supposed  to  be  in  an  advanced  stage  of  consumption.     As 
a  matter  of  fact  only  about  fifty  per  cent  had  tuberculosis ; 
the  rest  had  been  starved  to  the  point  of  death.     Go  out  to 
Forte  Tiburtino  on  a  Thursday  afternoon  when  .the  prison 
train  is  due.     Of  the  three  hundred  who  started  from 
Austria  not  quite  two  hundred  arrive.     Of  the  remaining 
one  hundred  one  third  have  died  on  the  way,  the  rest 
have  been  taken  from  the  train  because  too  ill  to  continue 
the  journey.     When  the  train  pulls  in  on  the  hospital  sid- 
ing there  are  no  friends  to  meet  them.     There  is  no  sound 
of  welcome  as  they  are  helped  from  the  cars  and  totter 
through  the  gate  into  the  hospital  grounds  and  on  into  the 
reception  room  where  they  are  registered.     This  is  not  due 
to  oversight  or  neglect.     Experience  has  shown  that  in 
their  exhausted  and  depleted  condition  they  cannot  stand 
the  excitement  of  welcome.     They  must,  if  they  are  to 
be  saved  at  all,  be  brought  back  gradually  to  the  land  of 
the  living.     Most  of  them  wear  in  their  caps  a  small 
American  flag,  the  gift  of  the  Red  Cross  workers  who  sup- 
plied them  with  food  as  they  passed  through  Switzerland. 
All  are  mere  shadows  of  men,  utterly  listless,  all  interest 
in  life  crushed  out.     Some   are  quite  demented.     They 
have  no  knowledge  of  what  has  happened  in  the  past  year 
and  do  not  care.     Even  the  return  home  has  failed  to  rouse 
them  from  their  lethargy.     Their  minds  are  blank.     They 
can  only  babble  of  their  hardships  and  their  hunger,  how 
they  have  lived  for  months  on  turnip  soup,  with  an  oc- 
casional herring,  and  eighty  grams  of  bread  a  day,  made 
with  a  large  mixture  of  straw.     After  registration  they  are 
sent  to  another  room  and  stripped.     Their  clothes,  mostly 
rags,  are  disinfected  and  sent  back  to  Austria,  which  makes 
this  a  condition  of  continuing  the  return  of  the  prisoners. 
Stripped,  the  men  are  mere  walking  skeletons,  in  some 


HOSPITALS  —  DISPENSARIES  95 

cases  the  bones  actually  protruding  through  the  flesh. 
They  are  bathed  and  disinfected,  given  clean  clothes  and 
hot  coffee.  The  mortality  is  heavy  in  this  hospital  in  spite 
of  the  best  of  care.  And  of  those  who  recover,  the  body 
responds  more  readily  than  the  mind.  In  the  late  after- 
noon you  may  perhaps  observe  some  three  hundred 
patients  well  enough  to  walk  about,  but  still  dead  to  the 
world  of  human  interests.  They  are  seated  under  the 
trees,  grouped  around  a  few  Y.  M.  C.  A.  entertainers  who 
with  banjo,  mandolin,  and  victrola  are  trying  through 
popular  Italian  airs  to  coax  their  souls  back  to  the  land 
of  the  living.  Singing  to  the  normal  Italian  is  as  natural 
as  breathing.  And  as  a  few  thin  voices  here  and  there 
timidly  break  into  song,  one  feels  that  at  least  some  of 
these  wastrels  of  war  are  being  recovered. 

The  American  Red  Cross  established  only  two  hospitals 
for  the  Italians,  and  these  were  for  refugees.  One  was 
on  the  Adriatic  Coast  at  Rimini  and  the  other  was  in 
Sicily,  at  Canicattini  Bagni. 

Eighteen  thousand  Venetian  refugees  had  been  housed 
in  seaside  villages  stretching  along  the  shores  of  the 
Adriatic  for  a  distance  of  forty  kilometers,  with  Rimini 
approximately  as  the  center.  They  were  without  proper 
nourishment  or  clothing  during  the  most  severe  climatic 
conditions  that  Italy  has  to  offer,  and  many  succumbed  to 
disease.  The  small  civil  hospital  at  Rimini  was  utterly 
inadequate  to  meet  the  demands,  and  the  American  Red 
Cross  obtained  through  the  Italian  Government  the 
Ospizio  Comasco  situated  in  this  town,  a  building  belong- 
ing to  the  city  of  Como  and  formerly  used  for  summer 
colonies  of  scrofulous  children,  remodeled  it  and  turned  it 
into  a  hospital  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  beds.  There 
was  a  larger  building  for  surgical  and  ordinary  medical 
cases  and  a  smaller  one  with  twenty-five  beds  for  those 
suffering  from  infectious  diseases.  The  Director  and  the 
entire  personnel  of  this  hospital,  with  the  exception  of 
the  nurses,  were  Italian,  the  doctors,  for  the  most  part, 


96  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

supplied  by  the  Italian  Government  or  volunteering  their 
services.  At  first  the  nurses  were  both  American  and 
Italian,  but  after  the  first  of  June  the  Italian  nurses  were 
replaced  bj  American.  A  special  ambulance  service  made 
it  possible  for  this  hospital  to  care  for  the  sick  in  this  en- 
tire group  of  refugees,  in  spite  of  the  distance  which 
separated  them.  During  the  year  of  its  operation  it  re- 
ceived 1533  patients,  and  when  it  was  closed  in  December 
provision  was  made  for  the  care  of  the  few  remaining 
patients  at  the  Civil  Hospital,  which  fell  heir  to  a  good 
equipment  of  hospital  supplies  from  the  Red  Cross  estab- 
lishment. 

Canicattini  Bagni  is  a  rural  mountain  town  of  fourteen 
thousand  inhabitants  situated  fifteen  miles  west  of  Syra- 
cuse, with  which  city  it  was  connected  before  the  war  by 
an  autobus.  With  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  all  cars  were 
requisitioned  for  military  use,  and  the  isolation  of  Cani- 
cattini was  complete.  Life  moved  on  uneventfully  in  this 
sleepy  old  town  under  the  clear  Sicilian  skies,  the  delicate 
green  of  the  century-old  olive  trees  that  covered  the  moun- 
tain slopes  giving  an  air  of  special  peace  and  quiet.  Only 
the  deserted  streets  and  the  empty  places  of  fathers  and 
sons  in  the  homes  brought  to  these  simple  country  folk 
the  realization  that  all  was  not  well  with  the  world. 

Then  one  day,  almost  without  warning,  the  war  was 
brought  very  near,  as  carriage  after  carriage  rolled  into 
the  town  bringing  what  seemed  an  endless  stream  of 
refugees  from  the  invaded  provinces  of  the  north.  These 
people  had  been  among  the  last  to  leave  Udine  and  had 
experienced  the  full  terrors  of  the  disastrous  retreat.  The 
horror  of  it  was  still  written  on  their  faces.  And  they 
were  hungry  and  half  clad  and  many  were  sorely  in  need 
of  medical  attention.  There  were  over  five  hundred 
refugees  to  be  housed  and  clothed  and  fed  by  this  little 
town  already  so  poor  as  scarcely  to  be  able  to  care  for  its 
own  population.  Into  every  habitable  nook  they  were 
tucked. 


HOSPITALS  —  DISPENSARIES  97 

A  small  hospital  of  twenty  beds  was  at  once  opened  for 
the  most  desperately  sick,  that  is,  if  beds  and  patients 
can  make  a  hospital,  for  there  was  nothing  else  to  indicate 
its  use.  But  it  so  happened  that  there  was  an  American 
woman  living  in  this  town,  the  wife  of  an  Italian  physician 
who  had  thrown  up  his  practice  in  Chicago  ten  days  after 
the  outbreak  of  the  war  and  rushed  to  the  aid  of  his  native 
land,  and  was  serving  at  the  front,  having  left  his  wife  in 
this  secluded  spot.  But  she  was  herself  also  a  doctor 
and  prior  to  her  medical  course  had  been  a  trained  nurse 
at  Battle  Creek.  To  her  the  Mayor  appealed  to  take 
charge  of  the  newly  opened  hospital.  She  at  once  closed 
her  office,  moved  over  her  private  equipment,  which  was 
all  inadequate,  and  assumed  the  heavy  burden.  Finding  a 
couple  of  promising  looking  refugees  she  dressed  them  in 
sheets  and  called  them  nurses  and  set  them  to  work.  Then 
she  opened  an  ambulatory  service  for  patients  not  needing 
hospital  care.  Piteous  were  the  cases  which  came  for 
help.  It  was  often  warm  clothing  rather  than  medicine 
that  was  needed.  All  that  she  had  she  gave,  but  it  did 
not  go  very  far,  and  daily  she  prayed  for  help.  And  then 
one  day  a  representative  of  the  American  Red  Cross  un- 
expectedly appeared.  "  I  was  so  surprised,"  she  writes, 
"  to  see  a  real  live  American  after  my  two  years  of  seclu- 
sion, so  moved  by  his  typical  American  business  air  and 
dash  of  sympathetic  generosity,  that  I  could  speak  neither 
my  native  nor  my  acquired  tongue.  He  left  behind  him 
the  first  ray  of  hope.  At  last  we  were  to  have  a  good  sup- 
ply of  condensed  milk  and  hospital  furnishings.  And  he 
left  money  with  the  Prefect  of  Syracuse  to  take  care  of 
most  urgent  needs."  This  is  the  way  the  Red  Cross 
stumbled  across  the  hospital  at  Canicattini  Bagni.  On 
March  1,  1918,  it  was  completely  taken  over  by  the  Red 
Cross  and  known  thereafter  as  the  "  Martha  Washington 
Hospital."  At  the  same  time  its  energetic  directress  was 
made  local  representative  of  the  American  Red  Cross. 
During  the  year  of  its  operation  (before  and  after  it  came 


98  THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

under  the  Red  Cross)  this  little  hospital  with  its  am- 
hulatory  service  made  the  following  record:  272  patients 
received  in  the  hospital ;  1410  medical  visits  made ;  9721 
treatments  and  medications ;  and  70  minor  operations. 

And  before  many  days  had  elapsed  our  newly  appointed 
delegate  had  in  smooth  running  order,  besides  the  hospi- 
tal, an  asilo  with  one  hundred  children  under  six  years  of 
age,  a  school  of  feminine  industries,  a  carpenter  shop  and 
a  school  of  music.  And  nowhere  in  America  could  you 
find  a  group  of  children  who  could  sing  the  Star  Spangled 
Banner  better  or  with  more  gusto  than  those  Red  Cross 
children  at  Canicattini. 

Probably  no  Red  Cross  dollars  paid  better  or  prompter 
dividends  than  those  spent  in  the  care  of  the  children  of 
the  soldiers  and  the  refugees  who  were  from  the  first  the 
special  charge  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  Upon  many 
thousands  of  these  children  the  cruel  hand  of  war  had 
left  its  mark  in  pale  faces,  old  beyond  their  years,  and  in 
emaciated  half-starved  bodies  which  fell  a  ready  prey  to 
disease.  The  American  Red  Cross  carried  on  a  number 
of  activities  for  the  help  of  these  poor  little  wrecks  of 
humanity  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  them  in  every 
case  strengthened  in  physique,  and  generally  transformed 
after  a  few  months  of  care  into  rosy-cheeked,  healthy, 
happy,  normal  children. 

The  most  widespread  of  these  activities  consisted  in 
supplementary  feeding,  that  is,  the  adding  of  certain 
needed  food  staples  to  the  diet  of  children  not  directly 
under  the  care  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  More  than 
one  hundred  thousand  children  were  benefited  in  this  way 
through  Red  Cross  diet  kitchens  and  through  milk  and 
flour  distributions.  Milk  throughout  Italy  was  exceed- 
ingly scarce  and  white  flour  was  unknown.  But  there  is 
hardly  a  town  or  village  in  all  of  Italy  now  that  is  not 
familiar  with  some  brand  of  American  condensed  milk. 
Cans  literally  by  the  million  were  used,  the  milk  being 


HOSPITALS  —  DISPENSARIES  99 

diluted  and  dispensed  according  to  the  age  and  need  of 
the  child.  "White  flour,  which  was  used  in  all  districts  in 
American  Red  Cross  institutions,  was  in  some  parts  of 
Italy,  where  food  conditions  were  particularly  bad, — 
ISTaples,  the  province  of  Calabria,  and  Sardinia, —  exten- 
sively distributed  to  Italian  institutions  caring  for  orphans 
and  children  of  soldiers  and  refugees.  The  American 
Red  Cross  established  and  successfully  operated  nine  dis- 
pensaries (not  including  those  established  after  the 
Armistice  in  the  redeemed  districts),  which  chiefly,  but  by 
no  means  exclusively  ministered  to  the  needs  of  children, 
and  became  also  centers  for  district  nursing.  They  were 
situated  at  Cesanatico,  Bellaria,  Chioggia,  Genoa,  Flor- 
ence, ISTaples,  Avellino,  Villa  San  Giovanni  and  Taormina. 
The  average  number  of  cases  treated  monthly  ranged  from 
275  to  8500.  One  of  the  most  successful  of  these  dispens- 
aries was  at  Genoa  which  was  run  in  cooperation  with  the 
local  organization,  the  "  Died  'per  Uno,"  each  of  whose 
members  has  assumed  the  obligation  of  watching  over  the 
care  of  ten  children.  Since  most  of  these  people  were 
identifled  with  local  charities  it  was  possible  through  them 
to  reach  the  cases  of  greatest  need.  This  dispensary  while 
under  the  supervision  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  was  in 
charge  of  an  Italian  woman  physician.  At  Florence  the 
dispensaries  took  the  form  of  Aiuti  Matemi,  of  which 
there  were  three,  each  under  the  supervision  of  a  woman 
physician  with  a  registered  nurse  in  charge.  These  were 
somewhat  similar  to  what  are  known  as  milk  stations  in 
America  except  that  in  addition  to  supplying  the  neces- 
sary food  for  under-nourished  nursing  mothers  and  chil- 
dren under  the  age  of  five,  a  certain  amount  of  medical 
advice  and  care  was  given  when  necessary.  In  general, 
in  these  dispensaries,  the  American  Red  Cross  provided 
medical  advice,  adequate  daily  care  and  the  necessary 
medicines.  Eggs,  milk,  broth  and  infants'  food  were 
given  wherever  there  was  need.     In  almost  every  case  the 


100         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

Italian  doctors  served  as  volunteers,  and  to  their  interest 
and  kindly  cooperation  mucli  of  the  success  of  this  work 
was  due. 

In  the  hospital  care  of  children,  the  Ked  Cross  has  pre- 
ferred to  strengthen  existing  institutions  rather  than  to 
create  new  ones.  In  some  cases  it  maintained  special 
wards.  Thus  at  the  Villa  Dini  Hospital  in  Naples  it 
provided  equipment  and  medicines  and  the  services  of  a 
special  nurse  for  a  Red  Cross  ward  of  twenty-five  beds, 
where  it  was  privileged  to  send  children  from  its  own  in- 
stitutions. At  Palermo  it  took  over  a  ward  of  thirty  beds 
in  a  seaside  hospital,  that  it  might  have  a  place  to  send 
children  whose  cases  were  too  severe  for  treatment  in  its 
convalescent  home.  Wards  were  maintained  in  hospitals 
at  Florence  and  Avellino.  In  Venice  there  was  a  new 
and  thoroughly  modern  hospital  all  but  ready  to  open  when 
the  big  retreat  brought  the  enemy  to  the  gates,  and  the 
constant  menace  of  invasion  paralyzed  the  life  of  the  city. 
In  the  fall  of  1918  the  American  Eed  Cross  with  the 
help  of  local  ofiicials  completed  the  equipment  of  this  hos- 
pital, filled  it  with  sick  children,  most  of  whom  had  been 
in  its  care  during  the  summer,  and  operated  it  until  the 
authorities  were  prepared  to  take  it  over. 

Convalescent  homes,  designed  to  give  special  care  and 
feeding  to  children  threatened  with  chronic  weakness,  were 
established  in  various  parts  of  Italy.  Of  these  the  one 
most  nearly  resembling  a  hospital  in  equipment  and  or- 
ganization was  at  Taormina  in  Sicily.^  The  institution 
at  Milan  known  as  the  Convitto  Affori  was  a  sort  of 
combination  of  convalescent  home  and  school,  and  was 
designed  to  serve  as  a  demonstration  center  of  modern 
methods  in  physical  and  mental  education.  The  Ameri- 
can Red  Cross  undertook  the  support  for  a  year  of  one 
hundred  delicate  orphans  of  war  and  children  of  soldiers 
at  this  institution,  and  remodeled  an  old  monastery  for 
its  use  in  accordance  with  the  progressive  ideas  of  the 

1  See  page  145. 


HOSPITALS  —  DISPENSARIES  101 

Associazione  per  le  8cuole,  an  institution  well  known  in 
Italy,  which  will  continue  to  run  it.  Other  convalescent 
homes  were  established  at  Albori  and  Raito  beautifully 
situated  on  the  hills  overlooking  the  Bay  of  Salerno,  at 
Bologna  (Villa  delle  Rose),  and  at  Messina. 

As  a  natural  outgrowth  of  its  work  for  the  relief  of  chil- 
dren, the  American  Red  Cross  organized  in  August,  1918, 
a  Children's  Health  Bureau,  which  was  designed  to  extend 
the  aid  and  influence  of  the  Red  Cross  to  the  homes,  and 
make  a  beginning  in  individual  work  for  the  children  who 
had  hitherto  been  cared  for  only  in  the  mass.  For  this 
it  was  first  necessary  to  provide  a  corps  of  health  visitors. 
These  were  Italian  women  chosen  because  they  had  a 
background  of  practical  experience  and  evinced  a  sincere 
desire  for  service.  They  were  given  a  three  weeks'  course 
of  intensive  training  in  the  American  Red  Cross  Hospital 
at  Milan.  This  course  was  partly  theoretical  —  lectures 
by  nurses,  social  workers,  and  Italian  doctors  on  hygiene, 
the  causes  and  prevention  of  infection,  the  care  and  feed- 
ing of  children,  the  principles  of  district  visitation,  and  the 
value  of  play ;  partly  practical  —  demonstration  classes 
in  the  care  and  feeding  of  babies,  the  preparation  of  food, 
the  cleaning  of  rooms,  the  isolation  of  patients,  etc.  Great 
stress  was  laid  on  the  necessity  of  resourcefulness  in  the 
use  of  material  at  hand,  on  the  importance  of  cleanliness, 
and  on  the  gospel  of  light,  air,  and  sunshine.  Two  classes 
were  trained  at  Milan  in  accordance  with  this  program. 

The  plan  was  to  have  these  women  work  in  groups 
under  the  direction  of  someone  with  special  training  in 
this  particular  field,  each  of  the  district  visitors  being  at- 
tached to  a  Red  Cross  Day  Nursery  which  should  serve 
as  a  demonstration  center  for  the  mothers  of  the  neighbor- 
hood and  which  was  to  be  equipped  with  the  medical  sup- 
plies necessary  for  carrying  on  the  work. 

This  scheme  offered  special  possibilities  in  localities 
where  the  percentage  of  illiteracy  was  high  and  con- 
sequently the  baneful  influence  of  tradition  and  supersti- 


102         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

lion  particularly  strong.  Two  centers  were  chosen  for  the 
initial  experiment.  One  was  in  the  Abruzzi,  in  five  vil- 
lages grouped  about  the  town  of  Aquila.  Each  of  these 
communities  cooperated  with  the  Red  Cross,  supplying 
the  buildings  and  sharing  the  cost  of  their  preparation  for 
day  nursery  uses.  The  other  center  was  in  the  Roman 
District  where  the  district  visitors  were  attached  to  already 
existing  Red  Cross  asili  at  Frascati,  Monterosi,  and 
Faleria.  The  sudden  outbreak  of  the  influenza  epidemic 
delayed  the  beginning  of  this  work,  but  as  the  district  visi- 
tors were  immediately  assigned  to  their  respective  com- 
munities to  aid  in  this  emergency  they  acquired  a  personal 
knowledge  of  the  needs  of  their  communities  which  proved 
of  special  value  when  once  the  work  was  begun. 

The  signing  of  the  Armistice  prevented  the  further 
extension  of  this  form  of  relief.  But  in  every  town  where 
the  bureau's  workers  had  been  employed  the  citizens  ex- 
pressed the  desire  that  the  work  be  carried  on,  and  the 
American  Red  Cross  provided  means  for  its  continuance 
until  June  1,  1919,  working  through  local  committees 
which  thereafter  assumed  full  responsibility,  hoping  to 
raise  the  funds  to  make  these  institutions  permanent. 

Probably  nowhere  in  Europe  is  the  welfare  of  children 
regarded  more  as  a  matter  of  public  concern  than  in  Italy, 
which  is  preeminently  a  children-loving  nation.  In  many 
sections  indeed  ignorance  prevails  and  the  dead  hand  of 
the  past  if.'ests  like  a  pall  upon  the  present,  producing  con- 
ditions that  bear  hard  upon  the  lives  of  the  children,  con- 
ditions that  are  patiently  endured  just  because  they  have 
always  existed ;  all  of  which  is  apt  to  give  a  wrong  im- 
pression to  the  casual  observer.  One  striking  manifesta- 
tion of  this  interest  in  children  is  found  in  the  fact  that 
in  the  summer  of  1918  the  popular  summer  resorts  in 
Italy  were  largely  turned  over  to  their  use.  The  beaches 
of  the  Mediterranean  and  the  Adriatic,  the  terraces  of 
once-fashionable  mountain  hotels  were  thronged  with  chil- 
dren sent  for  a  summer  outing  by  the  various  Italian 


HOSPITALS  — DISPENSARIES  103 

philanthropic  societies.  But  the  poverty  produced  by  the 
war  had  forced  retrenchment  at  a  time  when  the  need 
was  greatest,  and  the  American  Red  Cross  stepped  in  to 
help.  For  example,  an  organization  of  Milan  that  had 
been  in  the  habit  of  sending  five  thousand  children  of 
that  city  for  a  month's  outing  was  forced  to  cut  the 
number  to  three  thousand.  The  American  Eed  Cross 
promptly  assumed  responsibility  for  the  remaining  two 
thousand.  And  scattered  over  Italy  were  summer  colonies 
for  children,  some  thirty  in  all,  under  the  banner  of  the 
American  Eed  Cross,  bringing  sunshine  and  health  into  the 
lives  of  seven  thousand  waifs  of  the  war.  The  children, 
selected  from  the  families  of  soldiers  and  refugees,  were 
all  delicate  and  threatened  with  chronic  illness,  due  largely 
to  malnutrition  and  bad  housing  conditions. 

A  typical  colony  was  Monte  Luco,  a  beautiful  mountain 
overlooking  the  picturesque  old  town  of  Spoleto  and  the 
Umbrian  plain  with  Trevi  and  Assisi  in  the  distance.  An 
hour's  climb  from  Spoleto,  up  a  narrow  mule  path  wind- 
ing through  a  grove  of  ilex  trees,  brought  one  to  the  top, 
where  seven  large  tents  floating  the  American  and  Italian 
flags  provided  shelter  for  one  hundred  and  twenty  chil- 
dren between  the  ages  of  four  and  twelve.  Spoleto  itself 
took  as  much  pride  in  this  institution  as  did  the  Red 
Cross,  supplying  soldiers  to  prepare  the  ground,  teachers 
and  attendants  to  take  charge  of  the  children  and  furnish- 
ing lights  and  telephone,  while  a  doctor  and  dentist  from 
the  town  volunteered  their  services,  spending  a  day  of 
each  week  at  the  camp.  The  fresh  air,  the  supervised 
exercise  and  recreation,  the  hygienic  care  and,  above  all, 
the  liberal  and  well  balanced  feeding  soon  bore  fruit. 
Visiting  the  camp  some  weeks  after  it  had  been  started  one 
could  hardly  believe  that  these  children  crowding  around 
the  Red  Cross  representative,  to  give  him  a  welcome  such 
as  only  Italian  children  know  how  to  give,  radiantly  happy 
and  pictures  of  health,  were  the  same  youngsters  who  had 
with  difficulty  climbed  the  mountain  a  short  time  before. 


104         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

Even  their  mothers  scarcely  recognized  them,  and  the 
gratitude  of  the  soldier  fathers  visiting  the  camp  when 
they  returned  on  leave  was  most  touching.  But  the  grati- 
tude was  not  confined  to  the  parents.  A  Red  Cross  in- 
spector sitting  on  the  edge  of  a  tahle  talking  with  one  of 
the  attendants  was  nearly  bowled  over  when  a  little  tot' 
of  four,  who  had  quietly  clambered  up  on  the  other  side 
of  the  table,  suddenly  threw  his  arms  around  him  and  ex- 
claimed with  genuine  depth  of  feeling  "  Viva  America ! 
Viva  America !  " 

There  were  six  American  Red  Cross  tent  colonies  in  the 
Island  of  Sardinia,  three  in  the  mountains  and  three  on 
the  sea,  which  were  particularly  successful.  The  Sards 
are  proud  and  often  refuse  to  accept  pity  or  assistance  in 
their  troubles  and  misery.  And  when  the  Red  Cross 
opened  the  inscription  list  for  children  from  one  town  in 
sore  need,  not  one  mother  would  enroll  her  child.  The 
Committee  formed  in  this  town  by  the  invitation  of  the 
American  Red  Cross  to  manage  the  camp  hit  upon  this 
clever  ruse.  They  set  up  in  the  principal  square  of  the 
city  one  of  the  large  Red  Cross  tents,  prepared  cots  with 
clean  linen  and  fresh  blankets,  set  out  the  garments  made 
for  the  children,  exhibited  the  white  flour,  condensed  milk, 
lard,  and  other  food  supplies  furnished  by  the  Red  Cross, 
and  over  the  tent  placed  the  Stars  and  Stripes  and  the  tri- 
color of  Italy.  Their  pride  was  immediately  conquered. 
Within  an  hour  thirty  children  had  been  inscribed,  and  a 
doctor  was  busy  inspecting  them  to  determine  whether  or 
not  they  should  be  admitted  to  the  camp.  The  coopera- 
tion between  the  Red  Cross  and  the  people  was  more  com- 
plete and  more  intimate  in  Sardinia  than  anywhere  else. 
The  communities  benefited  adopted  the  colonies  with  en- 
thusiasm and  worked  with  a  will  for  their  success.  Gen- 
erally they  were  placed  in  charge  of  Sisters  of  Charity 
and  managed  by  a  group  of  leading  citizens,  whose  wives 
made  all  the  necessary  clothing  for  the  children  from 
materials  furnished  by  the  Red   Cross,   and   frequently 


HOSPITALS  —  DISPENSARIES  105 

volunteered    their    services    as    overseers    of    the   camps. 

Especially  gratifying  were  the  results  obtained  in  the 
camps  on  the  beaches  where  the  sun  cure  combined  with 
sea  bathing  and  nourishing  food  brought  about  cures  which 
often  seemed  almost  miraculous.  Here  the  children  would 
pass  the  day  in  the  open  air  exposed  to  the  sun  and  dressed 
in  bathing  suits  only,  going  in  bathing  or  playing  in  the 
sand  according  to  the  prescription  of  the  doctor,  watched 
over  by  a  group  of  kindly  signorinas.  One  little  fellow  af- 
fected with  a  form  of  tuberculosis  of  the  spinal  column, 
when  he  first  came  to  camp  could  not  stand  up  and  re- 
mained near  the  tent  unable  to  move  and  taking  no  in- 
terest in  the  other  children.  His  chance  of  recovery 
seemed  doubtful  indeed.  Twenty  days  after  he  had  en- 
tered the  camp  he  was  not  only  on  his  feet,  but  running 
and  jumping  with  the  other  children,  having  gained  over 
twelve  pounds  in  weight.  At  one  of  the  seaside  colonies, 
out  of  two  hundred  scrofulous  children  one  hundred  and 
seventy  returned  entirely  cured.  At  all  of  the  camps,  here 
as  well  as  on  the  mainland,  the  gain  in  weight  of  the  chil- 
dren was  truly  remarkable. 

The  mothers  often  came  from  distant  villages,  walk- 
ing many  miles  to  visit  their  children  and  were  always 
overwhelmed  with  delight  at  the  care  their  little  ones  were 
receiving  and  their  evident  improvement  in  health.  The 
news  was  always  promptly  sent  to  the  fathers  at  the  front 
who  never  failed  to  send  warm  expressions  of  gratitude. 

The  so-called  "  Spanish  influenza,"  which  was  epidemic 
in  most  countries  in  the  fall  of  1918,  struck  Italy  with 
particular  severity,  especially  in  the  central  and  southern 
parts,  where,  owing  to  poverty  and  shortage  of  supplies 
occasioned  by  the  war,  undernourishment  was  universal 
and  where  it  was  frequently  all  but  impossible  to  get  the 
drugs,  disinfectants,  or  medical  supplies  essential  for  re- 
lief. In  some  communities  as  high  as  fifty  per  cent  of 
the  population  caught  the  dread  disease.  The  mortality 
was  frightful.     Something  like  a  panic  seized  the  people. 


106         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

especially  the  more  ignorant  peasantry,  who  were  afraid 
to  attend  the  sick  or  bury  the  dead  or  even  to  do  the  neces- 
sary washing. 

The  elastic  organization  of  the  American  Ked  Cross 
proved  its  value  in  this  crisis.  The  different  departments, 
Civil  Affairs,  Medical  Affairs,  and  the  Department  of 
Tuberculosis,  cooperated,  concentrating  their  resources  in 
personnel  and  equipment  on  the  task  of  fighting  the  dis- 
ease. In  the  districts  most  stricken  all  regular  activities 
of  the  American  Red  Cross  were  temporarily  suspended 
and  the  personnel  at  each  center  transformed  itself  into 
a  nursing  and  sanitary  corps  to  aid  the  local  doctors. 
Some  sixty  conmaunities  were  assisted  with  anywhere  from 
one  to  a  thousand  pounds  of  drugs,  disinfectants  and  other 
medical  supplies  such  as  syringes,  thermometers,  ice  packs, 
hot  water  bags,  towels,  and  handkerchiefs.  And  con- 
densed milk  and  beef  extract  were  sent  in  every  direction 
in  large  quantities.  Owing  to  the  difficulties  and  uncer- 
tainties of  railway  transportation  this  relief  was,  when- 
ever possible,  hurried  by  special  messengers  in  camions  to 
places  of  need. 

In  the  Avellino  district  centers  of  milk  distribution  and 
of  general  assistance  were  established  in  ten  different 
towns.  In  the  city  of  Avellino,  the  American  Red  Cross 
organized  and  directed  street  cleaning,  house  cleaning,  and 
disinfecting  squads.  It  also  opened  a  general  dispensary, 
and  a  shelter  for  children  taken  from  stricken  households. 
In  ^Naples,  while  much  work  was  done  in  the  city  itself, 
where  a  dispensary  and  children's  aid  station  was  estab- 
lished in  the  Galleria  Vittorio,  the  greatest  need  was  found 
in  the  small  villages  of  the  Posillipo  section,  where  the 
lack  of  medical  and  nursing  care  and  the  acute  shortage 
of  milk  had  brought  about  alarming  conditions.  Here 
American  Red  Cross  workers  carried  on  a  house  to  house 
visiting.  A  center  for  the  distribution  of  broth  and  milk 
was  promptly  established  at  Posillipo  itself,  which  also 


HOSPITALS  —  DISPENSARIES  107 

served  as  a  clinic,  furnished  medicines,  and,  when  neces- 
sary, clothing  and  blankets  as  well. 

One  day  the  Mayor  of  Sezze  accompanied  by  a  doctor 
of  the  Italian  Army  appeared  at  American  Eed  Cross 
headquarters  in  Eome  and  told  the  story  of  the  critical 
conditions  that  existed  in  their  little  town  of  thirteen 
thousand  inhabitants  perched  on  a  hill  in  the  heart  of  the 
Pontine  marshes.  The  people  of  this  town,  malarial  sub- 
jects from  their  work  in  the  low-lying  fields  of  the  marsh 
district,  had  fallen  easy  victims  of  the  epidemic.  Six 
per  cent  of  the  population  had  died  in  two  weeks.  The 
life  of  the  town  was  practically  paralyzed.  Many  had 
fled  into  the  country,  while  others  had  shut  themselves 
up  in  their  houses,  so  that  Sezze  with  its  deserted  streets 
seemed  like  a  city  of  the  dead.  They  had  no  means  of 
caring  for  the  sick.  Within  forty-eight  hours  after  hear- 
ing this  tale  the  American  Red  Cross  had  a  hospital  of 
forty  beds,  thoroughly  equipped,  established  in  a  building 
that  had  formerly  been  a  convent,  with  three  American 
nurses  and  an  American  doctor  in  charge.  The  assist- 
ance of  the  American  Red  Cross  undoubtedly  saved  this 
town  from  great  disaster.  Though  it  was  continued  only 
for  a  few  weeks  it  gave  the  people  courage  as  well  as  an 
opportunity  to  meet  their  o\^^l  difficulties.  The  town 
authorities  showed  great  initiative  and  every  desire  to 
bear  their  own  burdens,  asking  nothing  but  to  be  assisted 
in  getting  on  their  own  feet.  Orphaned  children  left  in 
the  wake  of  the  scourge  they  promptly  gathered  into  a 
local  convent,  the  American  Red  Cross  providing  food 
and  clothing  and  medical  care.^  The  gratitude  of  the 
town  of  Sezze  for  the  help  extended  by  the  American  Red 
Cross  was  feelingly  expressed  in  proclamations  posted 
throughout  the  city  as  well  as  in  scores  of  letters  from  her 
citizens  sent  to  headquarters  in  Rome. 

Probably  the  largest  single  contribution  of  the  Ameri- 
can Red  Cross  to  this  crisis  was  the  distribution  of  hun- 


108         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

dreds  of  thousands  of  cans  of  condensed  milk.  Italy  was 
suffering  from  a  fresh  milk  famine,  and  American  con- 
densed milk  which  was  sent  all  over  Italy  came  as  a 
special  boon  to  the  sick  children.  In  the  Avellino  dis- 
trict alone  in  the  months  of  October  and  November  half 
a  million  quarts  of  properly  diluted  condensed  milk  were 
distributed. 


\ 


"i^ 


e<' 


J" 


2^5000* 


^ 


<i. 


^ 


^ 


<C' 


5 
u 


•0 

u-l 
Z 

o 
S 


■o 


uJ 


,  '-'  :7-     ^  -  >-  O 


195 

u2< 


^♦-i     ^ 


J 


CHAPTER  VII 

A  Tour  through  Italy  in  the  wake  of  the  Ked  Cross  —  Genoa  — 
Turin  —  Milan  —  Padua  —  Venice  —  Florence 

The  chapters  that  have  gone  before  have  given  a  com- 
prehensive description  of  the  work  that  the  American  Red 
Cross  accomplished  with  and  for  the  Italians  both  on  the 
fighting  front,  through  its  ambulances  and  canteens  and 
its  assistance  to  hospitals,  and  on  the  "  inner  front," 
through  its  broad  measures  for  civilian  relief.  The  ac- 
companying map  gives  a  graphic  representation  of  the 
extent  and  distribution  of  that  work.  Its  character,  how- 
ever, differed  much  in  different  localities,  and  to  com- 
plete the  story  it  is  necessary  to  take  a  rapid  tour  through 
Italy  in  the  wake  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  noting  the 
unique  features  that  have  not  as  yet  been  described.  No 
attempt  will  be  made  to  give  a  complete  account  of  the  ac- 
tivities in  the  different  districts  nor  will  the  relative 
amount  of  space  given  to  the  different  regions  be  any  indi- 
cation of  the  relative  importance  of  the  work  done  there. 
Rome,  for  example,  where  perhaps  a  larger  amount  of  work 
was  done  than  anj^where  else,  will  come  in  for  but  a  few 
pages,  since  most  of  its  activities  not  already  described  were 
of  the  normal  kinds.  These  differences  in  Red  Cross  work 
were  partly  due  to  the  individuality  of  the  delegates,  but 
chiefly  to  conditions  determined  by  the  nearness  or  remote- 
ness from  the  fighting  zone,  or  by  the  divergencies  in 
climate,  prosperity  and  literacy,  which  were  often  very- 
great.  In  the  matter  of  literacy  alone  the  range  was  from 
11  per  cent  of  illiterates  in  the  Provinces  of  Piedmont  and 
Lombardy  to  nearly  70  per  cent  in  Puglie,  Calabria,  and 
Sicily.     Owing  to  these  differences  and  also  to  the  survival 

109 


110         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

of  rivalries  dating  from  the  time  when  Italy  had  been  di- 
vided into  different  political  units  under  foreign  domina- 
tion, the  unity  of  Italy  before  the  war  had  been  in  name 
rather  than  in  fact.  That  is,  while  the  people  all  over  Italy 
were  united  in  loyalty  to  the  King  and  devotion  to  the 
country,  they  still  cherished  the  old  superiorities.  The 
people  of  Lombardy,  for  example,  thought  themselves  a 
little  better  than  the  Piedmontese,  were  on  speaking  terms 
with  the  Veneto,  looked  with  contempt  on  southern  Italy 
and  as  for  Calabria  and  Puglie,  they  simply  did  not  exist. 
But  during  the  war  many  a  brigade  from  the  poorer  and 
more  ignorant  sections  acquitted  itself  gloriously  in  battle, 
and  there  were  undoubtedly  some  from  the  more  favored 
regions  whose  record  is  not  above  reproach.  So  one  of 
the  effects  of  the  war  has  been  to  bring  about  a  better  un- 
derstanding and  a  readjustment  of  valuations,  and  in  the 
process  Italy  has  become  united  in  spirit  more  than  ever 
she  was  before. 

GENOA 

Americans  who  have  visited  Genoa  will  remember  the 
beavitiful  palace  of  the  King  situated  on  one  of  the  steep 
slopes  rising  from  the  harbor.  The  building  is  beauti- 
fully landmarked  from  the  waterfront  by  palms  and  a 
fountain  in  the  foreground,  and  above  the  great  build- 
ing of  stone  with  two  wings  stretching  out  towards  the  sea. 
When  King  Victor  Emanuel  found  that  a  large  space 
would  be  needed  to  store  the  goods  coming  into  the  port 
of  Genoa  from  America  intended  for  distribution  among 
the  refugees  and  the  wives  and  children  of  soldiers  fight- 
ing at  the  front,  he  immediately  directed  that  a  part  of 
this  palace  be  turned  over  to  the  American  Red  Cross  for 
warehouse  purposes.  Here  in  what  were  formerly  the 
royal  stables  and  riding  school  were  stored  the  supplies 
used  in  the  Genoa  District.  American  bacon  and  beans 
and  barreled  beef  and  flour  filled  the  stalls  where  once 
the  spirited  horses  of  the  royal  family  lived  in  equine 


A  TOUR  THROUGH  ITALY  111 

luxury.  But  this  was  only  one  of  many  warehouses  in 
Genoa,  for  almost  all  of  the  American  Red  Cross  sup- 
plies that  came  to  Italy  in  such  generous  quantities 
entered  through  this  port.  To  handle  these  supplies  re- 
quired six  warehouses  on  the  Genoa  docks.  Much  of  the 
material  sent  to  Switzerland  for  prisoners'  relief  also 
passed  through  these  warehouses.  Incidentally  the  Red 
Cross  cleared  and  transported  all  the  Y.M.C.A.  supplies 
for  Italy.  Often  the  goods  were  checked  into  the  port 
warehouse  and  immediately  checked  out  again  and  started 
for  their  destinations,  the  various  Red  Cross  warehouses 
in  Italy.  When  once  the  work  of  the  Commission  was 
fully  under  way,  an  average  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
carloads  of  goods  left  the  Genoa  docks  every  day,  carrying 
far  and  near  the  material  which  kept  all  the  Red  Cross 
activities  in  Italy  going. 

TURIN" 

Turin,  the  first  large  city  reached  on  entering  Italy 
from  France,  was  at  all  times  ready  and  prepared  to  give 
the  American  soldiers  a  welcome  on  their  arrival,  but  in 
view  of  the  small  number  of  Americans  sent  to  Italy  had 
little  opportunity  to  show  how  much  it  could  do.^  But  a 
station  canteen  and  rest  house  furnished  food  daily  for 
five  hundred  allied  soldiers  and  cared  for  three  hundred 
at  night. 

The  city  of  the  automobile,  the  home  of  the  Fiat,  the 
Detroit  of  Italy,  a  city  of  many  war  industries,  there  was 
always  plenty  of  work  in  Turin,  and  the  hardships  of  war 
were  less  in  evidence  here  than  elsewhere.  Local  chari- 
table organizations  did  much,  especially  for  the  children, 
and  the  American  Red  Cross  gave  its  assistance  largely 
through  these  institutions,  supplying  the  things  that  could 
with  difficulty  be  procured  in  Italy.  It  did,  however, 
organize,  equip,  and  operate  three  homes  for  war  orphans, 
one  of  these  being  comfortably  established  in  a  spacious 

1  See  page  161. 


112         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

villa  that  had  formerly  been  the  property  of  the  German 
Consul  in  Turin.  Its  large  yard  with  its  big  shade  trees 
made  a  fine  iihiy ground  for  the  Red  Cross  youngsters  who 
established  themselves  in  firm  possession  and  were  a  happy 
family.  It  was  a  special  satisfaction  to  see  this  palatial 
German  villa  put  to  such  gentle  and  humane  use. 
Through  the  Turin  center  the  Red  Cross  also  provided 
twelve  thousand  Polish  prisoners  of  war  in  camp  at 
Chivasso  with  many  comforts,  such  as  underwear,  socks, 
and  smoking  tobacco,  not  to  mention  the  small  item  of 
25,000  envelopes  and  paper. 

MILAN 

The  city  of  Milan  received  less  than  its  share  of  recogni- 
tion from  the  tourists  of  pre-war  days.  It  was  regarded  in 
the  main  as  a  city  that  had  to  be  passed  through  on  the  way 
to  more  picturesque  and  interesting  cities  farther  east  and 
south,  deserving  only  a  brief  stop, —  long  enough  for  a 
view  of  the  famous  Cathedral,  and  the  old  market  place, 
a  tour  of  the  gallery  and  a  glimpse  of  the  remains  of 
Leonardo's  masterpiece.  But  during  the  past  few  years 
Milan  has  come  into  its  own.  Capital  of  the  rich  and 
populous  Province  of  Lombardy,  with  its  many  industrial 
centers,  all  working  overtime  to  provide  the  sinews  of 
war,  the  great  military  center  for  the  armies  of  the  allied 
nations,  it  has  come  to  be  recognized  as  about  the  most 
important  city  of  the  realm.  N^ow  the  people  of  Lom- 
bardy are  most  loyal ;  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  they  were 
in  a  low  state  of  mind  after  Caporetto,  when  the  refugees 
began  to  pour  in  by  the  tens  of  thousands,  and  it  seemed 
to  be  only  a  question  of  time  when  the  Germans  would 
take  Milan.  Lombardy  was  always  keenly  conscious  of 
the  war  and  its  menace.  For  thousands  of  years  when- 
ever there  had  been  a  war  she  had  been  the  coveted  prize. 
Also  one  must  remember  that  the  German  hold  upon 
Milan  through  control  of  its  banks  and  industries  was  par- 
ticularly strong;  and  while  the  people  hated  the  Austrians, 


Till'  iioondav  meal  at  the  Red  Cross  asilo  at  \  aiedo,  near  Milan. 


A  TOUR  THROUGH  ITALY  113 

they  had  been  made  to  believe  that  Germany  was  their 
friend  and  would  see  to  it  that  Italy  got  her  due  from 
Austria.  So  the  German  propagandists  had  found  an 
especially  fertile  field  here.  They  worked  with  the  anti- 
war socialists  and  after  Caporetto  became  particularly  of- 
fensive. 

The  American  Red  Cross  stepped  in  when  the  situation 
was  at  its  darkest  and  working  through  the  energetic 
American  Committee  for  Relief  in  Lombardy  gave  prompt 
and  lavish  aid.  It  was  necessary  to  show  to  the  people 
that  America  was  with  them  in  the  war  and  to  show  them 
at  once  and  in  a  big  way.  That  mistakes  were  made, 
that  enterprises  were  started  which  had  to  be  abandoned 
goes  without  saying,  but  the  need  was  for  immediate  ac- 
tion, and  the  result  sought  was  achieved.  For  some  time 
it  was  a  good  part  of  the  task  of  the  American  Red  Cross 
representatives  to  go  to  every  public  function  and  show 
themselves.  They  wore  the  American  uniform  and  were 
the  advance  guard  of  the  American  Army.  The  patriotic 
Italians  not  only  worked  with  them ;  they  played  them  up. 
As  the  weeks  went  on  and  the  refugees  became  absorbed 
in  the  life  of  the  community,  and  the  problem  of  their 
relief  less  pressing,  the  work  of  the  American  Red  Cross 
branched  out  in  every  direction  until  it  might  be  said 
without  exaggeration  that  every  phase  of  the  work  for 
humanity  done  under  the  Geneva  flag  found  expression 
here. 

Extending  for  miles  out  into  the  country  from  Milan 
are  flat  green  fields  partly  submerged  in  water.  They  are 
neither  swamps  nor  marsh  lands,  those  waving  fields  of 
tender  green,  bordered  by  rows  of  slender  willows.  They 
are  the  famous  rice  fields  of  Lombardy.  Here  and  there 
scattered  across  them  you  might  have  seen  in  the  month 
of  June  groups  of  half-crouching,  half-bending  women, 
their  feet  and  ankles  in  water,  their  faces  hidden  by 
drooping  broad-brimmed  hats,  patiently  pulling  up  the 
weeds.     It  was  a  monotonous  and  back-breaking  task,  but 


114         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

always  enlivened  and  made  endurable  bj  song.  For  as 
they  worked  they  sang  —  a  sort  of  chant,  at  once  happy 
and  plaintive,  quite  in  keeping  with  the  scene  and  the 
setting,  and  not  unlike  the  song  of  the  darkies  in  our 
cotton  fields  at  home. 

One  care  at  least  had  been  lifted  from  the  minds  of 
these  patient  mothers  as  they  worked  and  sang  in  the 
rice  fields,  leaving  the  younger  women  free  to  take  the 
places  of  men  in  the  industries.  Their  babies  were  being 
well  cared  for.  The  American  Eed  Cross  in  cooperation 
with  the  Italian  authorities  aided  in  the  establishment 
and  maintenance  of  day  nurseries  for  these  babies 
throughout  the  rice  district.  Like  mushrooms  they 
cropped  up  over  night, —  sixteen  in  the  space  of  two 
weeks, —  some  established  in  public  schools,  some  in 
convents  in  charge  of  soft-voiced,  black-robed  nuns,  and  all 
provided  with  yards  in  which  the  children  played.  In 
some  of  the  more  pretentious  nurseries  were  rooms  with 
rows  of  wooden  cradles,  handmade  and  solidly  built,  well 
worn  from  many  rockings,  that  have  been  handed  down 
through  many  generations.  Mothers  took  pride  in  provid- 
ing their  children's  cribs  with  the  necessary  coverlets,  some 
of  them  mangels  of  embroidery,  done  in  happier  days  by 
the  women  themselves.  Wlien  the  work  was  over  they 
would  walk  in  a  body,  sometimes  several  miles,  to  the 
day  nursery  in  their  district  to  claim  their  babies.  It 
was  a  pretty  sight  to  see  them,  the  children  swinging 
their  little  baskets,  the  smallest  carried  in  their  mothers' 
arms  or  toddling  along  between  older  brothers  and  sisters, 
as  the  family  groups  wended  their  way  down  the  road 
towards  home,  chatting  eagerly  about  the  small  happenings 
of  the  day.  They  were  tired,  these  mothers,  from  their 
day's  work  wading  and  weeding  in  the  rice  fields,  but 
happy  in  the  knowledge  that  while  the  little  store  of 
money  was  growing  that  would  keep  them  from  want 
during  the  winter,  their  children  were  happy  and  well 


A  TOUR  THROUGH  ITALY  115 

cared  for,  getting  fatter  and  rosier  each  day,  thanks  to 
the  food  and  the  sweet  rich  milk  from  America. 

Milan  is  a  thoroughly  modern  city  and  incidentally  one 
of  the  best  governed  cities  in  Europe.  About  the  only 
good  thing  that  it  lacked  that  our  cities  in  America  possess 
was  a  children's  playground, —  not  a  park  where  they 
might  parade,  but  a  real  playground  all  their  own,  where 
they  might  romp  and  play  to  their  heart's  content  —  a 
playground  equipped  with  swings  and  teeter  boards,  fly- 
ing rings  and  a  shoot-tlie-clmtes ;  and  with  sand  piles, 
and  the  toys  that  go  with  them,  for  children  too  small  for 
the  more  hazardous  games.  The  American  Red  Cross 
conceived  the  idea  of  supplying  this  lack.  The  Umani- 
taria,  a  large  and  well  managed  charitable  organization 
of  Milan,  offered  the  ground,  and  the  thing  was  done.  It 
was  the  first  playground  of  its  kind  in  all  of  Italy,  and  it 
was  an  unqualified  success  from  the  beginning.  As  many 
as  a  thousand  children  a  day  enjoyed  its  privileges. 
Groups  of  children  would  gather  at  the  gate  waiting  for 
the  hour  of  nine  to  come,  when  the  field  was  open,  and 
it  was  hard  to  drive  them  away  at  dusk  when  the  time 
arrived  for  closing.  All  sports  had  their  partisans,  but 
the  one  that  aroused  the  most  enthusiasm  was  the  toboggan 
slide.  The  mats  that  had  been  provided  for  the  children 
to  slide  down  on  were  soon  discarded  as  wasting  time, 
or  perhaps  as  taking  away  some  of  the  thrill,  and  there 
was  often  a  steady  stream  of  humanity  sliding  down  the 
boards,  one  child  starting  before  his  predecessor  had 
reached  the  bottom.  At  one  side  a  little  refuge  had  been 
built  where  the  children  might  come  when  weary  of  play, 
and  there  was  the  ever  present  postcard  with  someone 
always  ready  to  assist  the  child  who  wanted  to  send  a 
message  to  his  or  her  father  at  the  front,  and  many  mis- 
sives were  sent  every  day.  A  trained  nurse  was  always 
on  hand  to  look  after  the  physical  welfare  of  the  children. 
And  the  games   were  supervised,   with   the   aim  of  not 


116         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

merely  directing  the  enthusiasm  and  energy  of  youth,  but 
also  teaching  the  children  generosity  and  team  work, 
teaching  them  to  play  the  game,  and  training  them  in 
leadership. 

PADUA 

The  sub-districts  of  the  American  Red  Cross  with 
centers  at  Verona,  Piacenza,  and  Vicenza,  were  wholly 
concerned  with  work  that  was  done  directly  with  the 
soldiers  and  with  extending  aid  to  front  line  hospitals. 
But  the  headquarters  for  all  American  Red  Cross  relief 
work  in  the  Veneto,  exclusive  of  the  Venice  District,  were 
at  Padua.  Padua  had  always  been  a  quiet,  sleepy  old 
town,  rich  in  monuments  of  the  Middle  Ages  and  the 
Renaissance,  visited  by  all  art  lovers  who  were  especially 
attracted  by  the  frescoes  of  Giotto  and  the  sculptures  and 
great  equestrian  statue  by  Donatello.  But  there  was  no 
quiet  in  Padua  after  the  Caporetto  retreat.  Filled  with 
soldiers  hurrying  towards  the  front,  officers'  staff  cars 
dashing  through  the  narrow  streets  with  open  exhausts 
—  there  were  no  speed  laws  in  the  war  zone  —  and  heavy 
army  lorries  lumbering  along  making  the  very  ground 
tremble,  Padua  was  always  the  scene  of  feverish  military 
activity.  And  night  after  night,  whenever  the  moon  shone 
clear,  there  were  incessant  air  raids,  one  following  another 
in  quick  succession,  sometimes  as  many  as  one  hundred 
bombs  dropping  in  a  single  night.  Houses  hit  fair  and 
square  simply  disappeared,  leaving  but  a  heap  of  rub- 
bish. But  it  was  not  an  infrequent  experience  in  walk- 
ing along  the  streets  of  Padua  to  find  oneself  suddenly  con- 
fronting a  house  whose  outer  wall  had  been  neatly  sliced 
off,  leaving  the  interior  exposed  to  full  view,  the  beds  and 
other  furniture  quite  intact.  Irreparable  damage  has  been 
done  to  some  of  the  ancient  monuments  of  Padua.'  And 
every  raid  took  its  tragic  toll  in  killed  and  wounded. 
These  were  almost  invariably  civilians,  mostly  women  and 
children,  helpless  victims  of  the  crudest  phase  of  the  war, 


A  TOUR  THROUGH  ITALY  117 

whose  injuries  or  death  brought  not  the  slightest  advant- 
age to  the  enemy.  As  many  of  the  population  as  could 
had  left  the  city,  but  many  thousands  remained.  And 
these,  in  large  numbers,  whenever  the  moon  appeared, 
would  seek  refuge  in  the  open  fields  beyond  the  town, 
there  spending  the  night  as  best  they  could,  in  all  sorts  of 
weather.  The  life  of  the  city  was  completely  disorgan- 
ized. All  the  industries  had  either  closed  down  or  moved 
away.  And  the  Eed  Cross  problems  in  Padua  were  de- 
termined by  these  conditions. 

The  first  step  taken  was  the  establishment  of  a  large 
workroom  for  the  making  of  garments,  which  ultimately 
employed  three  hundred  women,  members  of  soldiers' 
families,  and  served  the  double  duty  of  giving  employ- 
ment to  the  needy  and  providing  in  large  quantities  gar- 
ments for  the  poor.  This  workroom  was  run  in  close  co- 
operation with  a  local  Italian  Committee,  on  whose  ad- 
vice the  garments  were  sold  rather  than  given  away,  both 
because  it  was  felt  that  giving  away  was  demoralizing 
and  because  it  was  clear  that  the  Italian  authorities  would 
be  unable  subsequently  to  continue  the  precedent  of  giv- 
ing, so  that  for  the  Red  Cross  to  initiate  such  a  program 
would  result  later  in  invidious  comparison  and  invite 
discontent.  The  goods  were  therefore  sold,  at  the  bare 
cost  of  labor,  only  those  citizens  being  privileged  to  buy 
whose  cases  had  been  investigated,  and  these  were  pro- 
vided with  tickets  according  to  their  needs.  The  sales, 
held  in  the  loggia  of  the  Salone  della  Ragione,  were  a 
great  success,  and  this  method  of  distribution  met  with 
the  high  approval  of  the  public  authorities.  Towards  the 
middle  of  the  year  this  work-room,  like  the  rest  of  the 
Red  Cross  workrooms  in  Italy,  made  children's  clothes 
only,  and  these  were  used  in  Red  Cross  institutions,  the 
public  sales  being  discontinued. 

Universal  unemployment  had  caused  an  unprecedented 
demand  upon  the  public  kitchens  that  had  been  established 
by  local  Italian  organizations,  and  the  Red  Cross,  by  the 


118         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

generous  supply  of  food  stuffs  from  America,  enabled  them 
to  meet  tins  demand  and  continue  their  good  work. 

There  were  a  number  of  asili  for  the  children  of  Padua 
already  in  existence  and  these  were  all  assisted  by  the 
Ked  Cross  with  food  and  clothing.  Outside  the  city  of 
Padua,  in  widely  scattered  districts  distributed  through- 
out the  whole  of  the  Veneto,  the  Red  Cross  established 
its  owm  institutions  for  children,  until  over  six  thousand 
in  all  had  been  brought  directly  or  indirectly  under  its 
care. 

Fully  half  of  these  were  real  waifs  of  the  war  who 
had  lived  for  three  years  in  the  midst  of  the  back-wash 
of  the  fighting  armies,  within  the  sound  of  the  guns  that 
had  made  many  of  them  orphans.  There  were  fourteen  of 
these  institutions  in  the  vicinity  of  the  war  zone.  The 
smallest  of  all,  but  in  its  human  aspect  the  most  appeal- 
ing, was  an  orphanage  for  girls  which  had  been  so  battered 
about  by  the  hazards  of  war  that  its  original  number  of 
one  hundred  had  been  reduced  to  thirteen.  This  orphan- 
age had  been  founded  in  1901  at  Materello,  a  town  that  the 
pre-war  maps  place  in  Austria,  but  that  in  reality  was  in 
the  heart  of  the  Italian  region  of  the  Trentino.  This  in- 
stitution had  been  founded  in  order  to  give  to  "  the  future 
mothers  of  the  Trentino  a  Christian  education  full  of 
healthy  patriotic  sentiments,  strictly  Italian."  This  was 
not  an  easy  matter  under  the  eyes  of  the  strict  Austrian 
administration.  But  the  Sisters  in  charge  found  many 
ways  to  express  their  sentiments.  Their  habit  was  white 
with  a  narrow  piping  of  green  and  the  device  of  their 
order  displayed  on  a  red  background,  thus  ingeniously 
flaunting  the  Italian  colors  in  the  very  face  of  the  Austrian 
oppressor.  At  the  beginning  of  the  war  the  Sisters  had 
been  ordered  by  the  Austrian  authorities  to  remove  their 
little  charges  farther  back  into  the  interior.  They 
promptly  disregarded  this  order  and,  acting  quickly,  sent 
as  many  of  the  little  girls  as  they  could  to  relatives  of 
whose  loyalty  to  Italy  they  were  sure;  and  with  the  re- 


A  TOUR  THROUGH  ITALY  119 

maining  thirty-eight,  the  eight  Sisters  bravely  set  forth, 
not  back  into  Austria,  as  ordered,  but  towards  Italy. 
They  succeeded  in  reaching  Avio,  where  their  secret  hope 
was  realized  —  they  were  captured  by  the  Italian  Army. 
For  some  time  they  were  cared  for  by  the  military  authori- 
ties, but  the  vicissitudes  of  war  had  been  many,  and, 
out  of  thirty-eight  children  and  eight  devoted  nuns  who 
were  the  victims  of  that  welcome  capture,  only  thirteen 
children  and  three  nuns  remained  in  the  summer  of 
1918,  when  the  American  Red  Cross  took  them  under  its 
wing  and  continued  to  care  for  them  until  they  were 
able  to  return  under  the  victorious  Italian  Army  to  their 
old  home  in  Materello. 

The  Red  Cross  kept  at  all  times  in  close  touch  with 
front  dressing  stations  and  war  zone  hospitals,  and  through 
its  large  warehouses  established  in  Padua  was  able  to 
supply  field  hospitals  abundantly  and  promptly,  espe- 
cially in  times  of  activity.  On  one  occasion  during  the 
October  offensive  the  English  hospitals  near  the  Piave 
north  of  Treviso  ran  short  of  supplies  and  when  they  ap- 
plied to  the  American  Red  Cross,  it  was  a  particular 
satisfaction  to  be  able  to  meet  their  needs. 

Once  during  the  summer  when  malaria  was  at  its  height 
an  urgent  message  was  received  at  Padua  from  an  Italian 
general,  whose  division  was  located  on  the  lower  Piave, 
that  they  were  entirely  out  of  quinine  and  could  get  none 
from  the  Italian  authorities.  This  message  was  received 
at  noon.  There  was  no  quinine  at  the  time  in  Padua  and 
a  telegram  was  sent  to  Rome.  And  that  very  night  a 
special  messenger  was  sent  with  over  one  hundred  thou- 
sand pills,  which  were  delivered  the  next  morning  to  the 
general,  whose  gratitude  was  only  equalled  by  his  sur- 
prise and  admiration  for  the  promptness  of  the  response. 

VENICE 

Venice,  the  fair,  Venice  the  beloved,  city  of  romance 
and  mystery,  seemed  to  acquire  a  new,  if  tragic,  beauty 


120         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

and  an  added  fascination  under  the  grim  shadow  of  the 
war.  After  the  Caporetto  retreat  which  had  brought 
Venice  within  fourteen  miles  of  the  Austrian  guns  and 
made  it  subject  to  constant  air  raids,  there  was  a  con- 
tinuous exodus  of  her  citizens.  But  some  forty  thousand 
were  left.  All  the  industries  were  shut  down;  even  the 
stores,  save  those  that  provided  the  barest  necessities,  were 
closed ;  and  there  were  no  tourists,  all  the  hotels,  save  one, 
having  been  requisitioned  by  the  Government,  mainly  for 
hospital  use.  The  condition  of  the  forty  thousand  who 
were  left,  with  no  means  of  livelihood,  was  pitiable  in  the 
extreme.  But  their  fortitude  in  their  suffering,  their 
never-failing  confidence  in  victory,  and  the  fine  spirit 
shown  by  all  in  cooperating  for  the  common  good  cast 
an  added  glory  on  this  Queen  of  the  Adriatic. 

Venice  was  the  most  difficult  place  in  Italy  to  visit 
during  the  war.  It  was  more  difficult  in  fact  to  pass 
through  her  sentried  gates  than  to  make  a  tour  of  the 
front  line  trenches,  as  if,  somehow,  fate  were  trying  to 
shield  her  in  her  suffering  from  prying  eyes.  The  simple 
fact  is  that  Venice  was  under  the  Department  of  the 
Marine  and  guarded  with  that  careful  jealousy  which  the 
^NTavy  always  affects.  It  was  no  easy  matter  to  obtain  the 
necessary  permission  from  the  Ministry  of  Marine  in 
Rome  and,  that  received,  when  once  at  the  gates  of 
Venice,  one  must  stand  and  wait  while  officers  telephoned 
to  the  Naval  Base  to  see  whether  Rome  had  properly 
advised  it  of  the  name  and  identity  of  the  visitor.  If  by 
chance  that  formality  had  been  overlooked,  the  gates  of 
Venice  remained  closed.  Once  this  barrier  was  passed, 
having  real  business  in  Venice,  you  probably  found  a  motor 
launch  awaiting  you.  If  this  was  not  there  you  were  lucky 
to  find  a  gondola,  in  charge  not  of  a  gay  young  boatman 
as  in  former  days,  but  of  an  old  man  with  wrinkled  face 
and  shabby  clothes,  a  gondolier  emeritus,  who  had  emerged 
from  his  retreat  to  take  the  place  of  his  son  who  had  been 
called  to  the  colors.     All  was  quiet  and  still  on  the  Grand 


A  TOUR  THROUGH  ITALY  121 

Canal  save  for  the  chugging  of  motor  boats  speeding  on 
their  errands  of  war.  You  might  indeed  have  gone  the  en- 
tire length  of  the  Grand  Canal  and  scarcely  seen  another 
gondola.  The  houses  that  line  it  seemed  deserted,  windows 
and  doors  all  shut ;  the  market  place  was  empty ;  and  there 
was  no  sign  of  life  on  the  once  busy  Rialto.  An  occasional 
rent  in  the  side  of  the  canal  or  scar  on  the  front  of  a 
building  suggested  the  reason.  Here  was  what  once  was 
Saint  Simeon  the  Great,  now  a  pillar  and  a  pile  of  brick 
with  staging  to  support  what  was  left.  You  arrived  at  last 
at  the  Piazza  San  Marco.  There  was  the  new  Campanile, 
looking  quite  natural,  though  its  sweet  chimes  had  not 
been  heard  for  many  months.  And  there  were  the  familiar 
pigeons.  But  the  horses  were  gone  from  the  old  Cathedral. 
They  too  were  refugees  and  had  been  carried  clear  to  Rome 
for  safety.  The  fagade  was  completely  hidden  by  sand- 
bags, giving  the  Cathedral  the  air  of  a  fortress.  Brick 
supports  had  been  built  up  under  the  arches  of  the  Doges' 
Palace,  and  each  comer  was  protected  by  a  massive  block 
of  cement. 

Venice  at  night  was  even  stranger  than  by  day.  When 
darkness  closed  in  upon  palace,  lagoon,  canal,  and  bridge, 
the  city  could  be  felt  rather  than  seen.  One  has  heard 
much  of  the  darkness  of  London  and  Paris  in  these  times 
of  war  raids,  but  those  cities  were  well  lighted  in  com- 
parison with  Venice.  There  were,  indeed,  at  long  inter- 
vals a  few  ghostly  green  lights  whereby  the  experts  could 
steer  their  course.  But  people  stumbled  against  each  other 
in  the  narrow  streets  and  many  who  thought  they  knew 
every  stone  in  the  city  lost  their  way  and  fell  into  the 
canals. 

Where  were  the  children  that  used  to  be  so  much  in  evi- 
dence ?  Most  of  them  were  refugees  who  had  been  car- 
ried to  places  of  safety.  But  many  were  left  and  these 
had  been  gathered  into  children's  homes  for  their  better 
protection.  There  were  some  twenty-five  of  these  homes, 
or  asilij  run  by  a  Citizens'  Committee  and  generously  sup- 


122         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

ported  by  the  American  Ked  Cross.  In  fact  it  may  be 
said  without  exaggeration  that  practically  all  of  the  chil- 
dren of  soldiers  left  in  Venice  came  under  the  care  of 
the  Red  Cross.  But  Venice  being  subject  to  constant 
air  raids  day  and  night,  it  was  necessary  for  each  asilo  to 
provide  an  underground  refuge,  a  tomb-like  retreat,  shored 
with  heavy  timbers  and  protected  with  piles  of  sandbags. 
Whenever  the  siren  blew  its  warning  the  children  were 
gathered  here  by  the  kindly  Sisters  who,  in  order  that 
terror  might  not  be  added  to  the  sufferings  of  their  little 
wards,  sometimes  made  a  sort  of  game  of  the  experience, 
calling  the  children  together  when  the  warning  came,  say- 
ing :  "  Kow  we  shall  go  to  the  place  where  we  always 
sing  Viva  il  Re  (Long  Live  the  King)."  Then  the  line 
would  form  two  by  two.  There  was  no  hurrying,  for 
many  of  the  children  could  hardly  toddle,  and  hand  in 
hand  they  went  to  the  subterranean  school  and  remained 
while  airplanes  whizzed  above.  In  this  dark  refuge  the 
children  sat  huddled  together  and  sang.  But  often  the 
enemy  remained  in  the  air  a  long  time,  and  tired  voices 
dropped  away  to  silence,  and  small  heads  fell  over  upon 
shoulders  of  their  baby  comrades,  sleep  overcoming  them 
before  the  four  blasts  of  the  siren  announced  that  danger 
was  over,  when  out  they  went  singing  once  more  "  Viva  il 
Be/'  that  somehow  in  their  childish  treble  seemed  a  song 
of  victory  won. 

The  problem  of  supplying  food  to  the  poor  left  behind 
in  this  stricken  city  was  met  by  the  maintenance  of  seven 
public  soup  kitchens  —  four  in  Venice,  one  in  Burano, 
one  in  Murano,  and  one  in  Chioggia.  These  were  all 
under  local  management,  but  were  generously  assisted  by 
the  Red  Cross  with  supplies  sufficient  to  provide  in  all 
about  eight  hundred  thousand  rations.  A  free  dispensary 
for  the  families  of  soldiers,  run  by  an  Italian  physician, 
was  assisted  by  the  Red  Cross  which  gave  thousands  of  gal- 
lons of  fresh  milk  and  babies'  food. 

A  great  deal  was  done  in  Venice  for  the  soldiers  them- 


A  TOUR  THROUGH  ITALY  123 

selves,  both  in  and  out  of  hospitals.  l^Tot  only  were  quan- 
tities of  packages  sent  from  there  to  the  front  for  soldiers 
in  the  trenches,  but  distribution  was  also  made  at  the 
Venice  warehouse,  to  the  soldiers  on  leave,  of  packages 
containing,  generally,  underwear,  socks,  and  cigarettes. 
About  twenty  thousand  soldiers  were  aided  in  this  way. 

Ked  Cross  assistance  was  early  extended  to  Chioggia 
for  the  relief  of  refugees  leaving  Venice  by  that  door. 
But  Chioggia,  a  large  fishing  port  of  some  thirty-five 
thousand  inhabitants,  was  in  dire  straits  when  the  fish- 
ing industry  was  forced  to  suspend  on  account  of  the 
ever  present  enemy  submarines,  and  the  American  Red 
Cross  remained,  under  a  local  delegate,  to  cooperate  in 
all  measures  adopted  for  relief  of  the  soldiers'  families. 
And  similarly  Red  Cross  aid  was  extended  all  along  the 
shores  of  the  upper  Adriatic,  with  headquarters  at  Rimini 
and  Ancona. 

The  extensive  work  in  and  about  Venice  was  initiated 
through  the  efforts  of  the  American  Consul,  Mr.  B.  Harvey 
Carroll,  Jr.,  who  had  thrown  himself  with  indefatig- 
able energy  into  the  work  of  relief  immediately  after  the 
Caporetto  retreat  and  for  many  months  acted  as  unofficial 
representative  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  By  the  spring 
of  1918  the  work  had  grown  to  such  magnitude  as  to  re- 
quire undivided  attention  and  he  felt  compelled  to  resign, 
and  a  special  Red  Cross  delegate  was  sent  to  take  his 
place,  assuming  charge  on  the  first  of  June.  Under  the 
new  delegate  the  work  was  intensified  rather  than  ex- 
tended. Direct  supervision  of  the  existing  activities  was 
made  possible,  closer  personal  relations  were  established, 
and  the  methods  of  assistance  were  coordinated  with  those 
in  use  throughout  Italy.  A  visiting  assistant  nurse  was 
sent  among  the  asili  to  investigate  the  health  conditions 
and  to  assist  not  only  by  advice,  but  by  offering  her  per- 
sonal services  in  caring  for  the  health  of  the  children  and 
improving  hygienic  conditions. 

Manv  of  the  children  were  found  to  be  in  a  deplorable 


124         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

condition.  So  the  idea  was  conceived  of  establishing  a 
home  where  the  most  sickly  and  under-nourished  might 
be  kept  day  and  night  and  given  special  care  and,  when 
necessary,  medical  treatment.  The  success  of  the  Italian 
counter-offensive  in  the  early  days  of  July  removing  the 
enemy  lines  several  miles  farther  away,  suggested  the 
possibility  of  establishing  such  a  place  at  the  Lido,  where 
the  children  might  have  the  benefit  of  sun  and  sea 
baths.  Now  the  Lido  was  militarized  to  the  last  inch  of 
ground.  There  were  several  squadrons  of  air  planes  lo- 
cated on  the  island,  which  made  it  a  favorite  objective 
for  Austrian  air  raids,  and  the  hotels  had  either  been  re- 
quisitioned for  military  use  or  filled  with  the  furniture 
taken  from  those  that  had  been  requisitioned.  After 
many  difiiculties  and  the  untying  of  many  knots,  civil  as 
well  as  military,  the  spacious  ground  floor  of  the  Hotel 
des  Bains  was  secured.  The  hotel  kitchen  having  been 
burned  down  early  in  the  war,  a  small  kitchen  was  built 
in  two  days  with  the  help  of  soldiers  from  the  garrison 
at  Venice.  The  plumbing  was  put  in  order  by  means 
of  pipe  taken  from  other  buildings  for  there  was  no  pipe 
to  be  bought  in  Venice.  An  interested  colonel  at  the 
Lido  sent  fifty  men  to  put  the  place  in  order;  a  little 
freight  launch  tugged  one  himdred  and  eighty  beds  and 
all  the  furniture  of  the  children's  hospital  in  Venice  to 
the  nearest  landing  place;  Sisters  appeared  in  their  long 
black  robes,  and  maids  in  their  white  caps  and  aprons. 
A  Red  Cross  nurse  arrived  from  Rome,  bathing  suits  were 
provided,  the  cupboard  well  stocked  with  clothes  and 
finally,  the  first  week  in  August,  the  children  arrived 
and  the  place  was  formally  opened. 

The  great  ballroom  on  the  ground  floor,  completely  open 
on  all  sides  to  the  broad  terraces,  was  filled  with  rows  of 
little  blue  and  white  beds,  while  the  long  vine  covered 
terrace  on  the  ocean  side  contained  low  tables  and  chairs 
where  the  children  ate  their  meals.  There  they  spent 
happy  days  between  the  sea  and  the  pine  woods,  bathing 


A  TOUR.  THROUGH  ITALY  126 

and  playing  on  the  famous  Lido  sands.  The  children  had 
permission  to  use  the  beach  for  part  of  each  day,  under 
certain  restrictions,  for  every  foot  was  patrolled  and  the 
beaches  were  covered  with  trenches  and  barbed  wire  en- 
tanglements. But  these  barriers  only  gave  added  zest 
to  the  games  of  the  sunburned  infants  who,  in  their  bright 
colored  aprons,  all  initialled  C.  E.  A.  (Croce  Rossa  Ameri- 
cana) and  made  by  the  soldiers'  wives  in  Red  Cross 
workrooms  in  Venice,  laughed  and  shouted  in  their  play 
and  made  of  this  part  of  "  the  front  "  the  most  cheerful 
spot  in  the  neighborhood  of  Venice.  Three  hundred  chil- 
dren enjoyed  this  care  and  cure  before  this  colony  was 
closed  on  the  first  of  October.  Then  indeed  it  was  not 
really  closed,  for,  a  short  time  after,  in  the  unoccupied 
children's  hospital  at  Venice,  one  hundred  of  the  most 
needy  were  taken  again  under  the  charge  of  the  Bed  Cross 
which  continued  to  run  the  place  as  a  children's  home 
until  the  middle  of  February. 

FLOKENCE 

There  are  but  few  of  the  many  Americans  who  have 
had  the  privilege  of  visiting  Florence  who  have  not  come 
under  its  spell.  There  is  something  in  its  equable  climate, 
neither  too  warm  nor  too  cold,  too  wet  nor  too  dry,  that 
invites  one  to  remain ;  something  in  its  blue  Tuscan  hills 
dotted  with  homelike  villas  that  begets  affection;  some- 
thing in  the  atmosphere  that  clings  to  its  historic  monu- 
ments and  Renaissance  palaces  that  breathes  of  peace  and 
rest, —  a  mysterious  influence  that  entices  one  to  forget- 
fulness  of  the  sterner  realities  of  life.  The  Florentines 
themselves  come  under  this  spell.  They  accepted  the  war 
because  they  had  to,  but  without  any  enthusiasm.  It 
took  the  hard  blow  of  the  Caporetto  defeat  to  rouse  them 
to  a  full  sense  of  their  responsibility  and  bring  them 
wholeheartedly  into  the  struggle.  That  blow  fell  upon 
Florence  with  special  severity.  Being  the  great  railway 
terminal  from  the  north  it  was  like  the  end  of  a  huge 


126         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

funnel  through  which  the  refugees  poured,  and  at  one 
time  it  was  actually  housing  seventy  thousaad  refugees, 
an  enormous  load  for  a  city  with  al,  normal  population 
of  about  two  hundred  thousand.  On  the  very  first  day 
that  refugees  began  to  arrive  no  less  than  nine  thousand 
came  and  were  gathered  (it  would  be  more  accurate  to 
say  herded)  into  the  cloisters  and  the  church  of  Santa 
Maria  Novella.  Of  course  these  refugees  were  distrib- 
uted southward  as  fast  as  arrangements  could  be  made, 
but  twenty  thousand  remained  as  a  charge  upon  Morence. 
The  people  were  thoroughly  aroused.  The  menace  of  in- 
difference had  been  made  plain.  Governmental  and  local 
agencies  rose  promptly  to  the  occasion;  individuals  gave 
generously  of  their  time  and  means ;  and  the  American 
Red  Cross  through  the  Emergency  Commission  gave 
lavishly. 

It  was  some  time,  however,  before  the  people  of  the 
more  ignorant  class  accepted  the  situation.  Our  Red 
Cross  officers  when  first  they  appeared,  wearing  the  Amer- 
ican uniform,  were  not  infrequently  attacked  and  sub- 
jected to  abuse.  America's  participation  was  regarded  as 
simply  a  prolonging  of  the  war  that  had  lasted  too  long 
already.  How  this  feeling  was  transformed  was  shovm  by 
a  little  incident  that  occurred  a  few  months  later.  In 
the  early  spring  the  American  Red  Cross  delegate  was 
out  one  night  and,  returning  rather  late,  lost  his  way  in 
the  darkened  streets  and  before  he  knew  where  he  was 
found  himself  in  a  particularly  turbulent  quarter  of  the 
city,  where  suddenly  two  men  armed  with  knives  fell 
upon  him.  He  succeeded  in  getting  a  grip  on  one  of 
them  and  holding  him  in  front  of  him,  with  his  back 
against  a  wall,  but  he  was  hard  beset.  There  was  no 
chance  in  a  fight  and  no  hope  in  the  darkness  in  flight,  so 
he  decided  to  reason  with  them  and  began  by  explaining 
that  he  was  the  representative  of  the  American  Red  Cross. 
There  was  no  need  to  go  further.  They  at  once  desisted 
from  their  attack  and  asked  him  why  he  had  not  said 


A  TOUR  THROUGH  ITALY  127 

so  at  once.  They  then  insisted  upon  conducting  him,  one 
on  either  side,  to  within  a  few  blocks  of  his  hotel,  say- 
ing that  they  did  not  dare  to  go  farther  for  fear  of 
arrest,  both  being  in  fact  deserters  and  forced  to  live  in 
hiding.  But  they  explained  that  they  were  trying  to  find 
some  way  of  changing  their  names  and  getting  back  into 
the  service,  and  they  besought  his  aid,  saying  that  the 
Red  Cross  through  its  assistance  to  the  people  in  Flor- 
ence had  brought  about  this  change  of  heart. 

The  work  of  the  American  Eed  Cross  had  in  fact 
enormously  expanded  after  those  days  early  in  November. 
Some  three  hundred  towns  in  the  Province  of  Tuscany  had 
received  in  one  form  or  another  the  assistance  of  the  Red 
Cross.  And  the  work  in  Florence  itself  had  expanded 
until  it  reached  over  every  part  of  the  community.  There 
were  of  course  the  usual  Red  Cross  institutions  —  work- 
rooms, asili,  soup  kitchens,  etc.  There  was  also  a  certain 
form  of  relief  work  undertaken  here  that  was  not  dupli- 
cated elsewhere.  It  began  with  an  enormous  distribu- 
tion of  clothing.  The  great  Cinquecento  Hall  of  the 
Palazzo  Vecchio  was  piled  high  with  bundles  of  clothing, 
each  carefully  numbered  so  that  it  might  reach  the  family 
for  which  it  had  been  specially  prepared.  There  were 
nearly  seventy  thousand  garments  given  away  at  this 
time,  reaching  twelve  thousand  families  of  soldiers  and 
refugees,  whose  needs  had  all  been  previously  carefully 
investigated  by  the  authorities.  As  a  result  of  this  dis- 
tribution and  the  enormous  number  of  appeals  that  soon 
began  to  pour  into  Red  Cross  headquarters,  a  method  was 
adopted  whereby  the  American  Red  Cross  could  reach  the 
people  directly  and  continue  its  relief  in  a  systematic 
manner.  Taking  into  consideration  local  conditions  and 
the  special  character  of  the  people  in  this  district,  an  in- 
dividual Relief  Department  was  established  with  a  staff 
of  twenty-five  investigators  who  followed  up  every  appeal, 
visiting  the  families  and  investigating  the  conditions  and 
making  recommendations  according  to  the  need.     There 


128         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

were,  in  round  numbers,  nineteen  thousand  families  in- 
vestigated through  this  bureau,  fourteen  thousand  five  hun- 
dred of  these  receiving  some  form  of  assistance,  mainly 
in  the  form  of  clothing  and  bedding,  but  also  including 
other  kinds  of  aid.  The  good  effects  of  this  widespread 
relief  were  shown  in  many  ways,  but  most  of  all  in  the 
changed  attitude  of  the  poorer  class  towards  the  war. 

Two  small  institutions  established  by  the  American  Red 
Cross  in  the  Florence  district  deserve  special  mention  be- 
cause they  so  perfectly  illustrate  that  fine  spirit  of  co- 
operation between  the  Red  Cross  and  the  communities 
benefited,  which  has  so  universally  characterized  the  work 
in  Italy  and  has  done  much  to  establish  permanent  ties  of 
friendship  between  Italy  and  America,  while  at  the  same 
time  rendering  emergency  assistance  to  the  victims  of 
the  war  and  strengthening  the  power  of  resistance  of  the 
poorer  classes.  They  were  both  planned  as  permanent 
monuments,  and  in  this  respect  were  something  of  a  de- 
parture from  the  regular  practice  of  the  Red  Cross  which 
was  to  do  emergency  work  only.  The  first  one  was  in 
Leghorn  and  was  a  sort  of  supplementary  school  for  one 
hundred  children  of  soldiers  between  the  ages  of  six  and 
twelve.  What  had  been  a  public  square  with  many  beauti- 
ful old  pine  trees  was  turned  over  to  the  Red  Cross  and 
here  a  small  building  was  erected  to  which  the  artist's 
touch  had  given  the  character  of  an  ancient  monument 
set  in  among  the  pines,  a  single-storied  building  of  seven- 
teenth century  Florentine  architecture,  the  large  park  in 
which  it  was  erected  being  surrounded  by  a  wall  in  keep- 
ing with  the  building.  Four  allegorical  canvasses  in  the 
little  reception  room,  the  personal  gift  of  an  Italian  friend, 
gave  a  unique  touch  to  the  reception  room.  One,  called 
"  Courage,"  represents  the  little  fleet  of  Columbus  on  its 
way  to  the  New  World;  another,  called  "  Loyalty,"  gives 
a  representation  of  the  cherry-tree  episode;  the  third, 
called  "  Fraternity,"  represents  American  Red  Cross 
nurses  and  officers  offering  presents  to  Italian  children; 


O 


o3 
,J3 


a 


S^- 


C    o 
O 

«  o 

3 


Si 

IS 

cr 


A  TOUR  THROUGH  ITALY  129 

and  the  fourth,  called  "  Liberty,"  represents  American, 
Italian  and  other  allied  children  dancing  together  in  the 
midst  of  a  peaceful  rural  landscape.  After  the  Armistice 
this  educatorio  was  turned  over  to  the  city  of  Leghorn  with 
provision  for  its  maintenance  for  six  months,  after  which 
time  it  will  be  continued  indefinitely  by  the  city  authori- 
ties but  always  bearing  the  name  of  the  "  Croce  Rosso. 
Americana." 

The  other  was  a  children's  home,  situated  in  Lucca. 
Now  in  Lucca  antique  traditions  of  art  are  deep  rooted 
in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  so  a  little  building  was  de- 
signed that  would  sink  into  its  place  unobtrusively.  The 
authorities  of  Lucca  were  so  pleased  with  the  design  that 
they  at  once  gave  the  American  Red  Cross  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  spots  in  this  ancient  town,  on  the  famous 
Boulevard  that  runs  around  the  walls  that  surround  the 
underlying  city.  Forty-two  days  after  the  ground  was 
broken  this  building  was  brought  to  completion.  The  gen- 
eral satisfaction  over  the  result  was  voiced  by  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Association  of  Lucchese  Artists  when  he  said : 
"  I  like  the  simple  and  serious  little  construction  with 
its  painted  walls  and  ancient  tiled  roofs,  and  with  the 
decoration  you  so  sparingly  added  to  it.  It  is  quite  in 
harmony  with  these  historical  surroundings.  It  looks  as 
if  it  had  always  existed  there."  There  are  three  little 
buildings  in  this  group  united  by  porticoes,  the  central 
building  containing  a  little  day  dormitory  and  a  bath- 
room with  showers,  etc.,  also  a  small  dispensary,  the 
building  on  the  left  arranged  for  an  asilo  for  children 
from  three  to  six,  and  that  on  the  right  as  a  day  nursery 
for  children  from  one  to  three.  The  city  of  Lucca  will 
make  this  home  into  an  "  Ente  Morale  Autonomo/'  that 
is,  a  permanent  institution,  under  the  superintendence 
of  the  local  authorities  assisted  by  the  congregation  of 
charity.  Bearing  the  legend  of  the  American  Red  Cross, 
it  will  remain  as  a  beautiful  and  fitting  testimonial  to  the 
spirit  of  the  work  it  carried  on  in  Italy  during  the  war. 


CHAPTEE  VIII 

(Tour  through  Italy  in  the  wake  of  the  Red  Cross,  continued) 
—  Rome  —  Naples  —  Avellino  —  Bari  —  Reggio  Calabria  — 
Sicily  (Taormina  and  Palermo)  —  Sardinia 

ROME 

Rome  as  the  General  Headquarters  of  the  American 
Red  Cross  in  Italy  was  the  scene  of  several  unique 
and  impressive  functions  that  have  already  been  described. 
Most  friendly  and  cordial  relations  were  established  and 
maintained  throughout  with  the  Italian  Government, 
which  in  every  possible  way  cooperated  with  the  American 
Red  Cross  and  manifested  its  deep  appreciation  of  the 
work  it  was  accomplishing.  It  was  in  Rome  especially 
that  the  Red  Cross  came  into  touch  with  the  various 
Italian  organizations  for  war  relief  of  national  scope 
through  which  it  was  privileged  to  offer  various  and  mani- 
fold assistance.  Besides  the  Italian  Red  Cross,  these  in- 
cluded: the  Board  for  School  Relief  {Patronato 
Scolastico),  which  acts  under  the  Department  of  Educa- 
tion and  has  representatives  in  every  community,  and  the 
Committee  for  Refugee  Relief  {Patronato  dei  Profughi) 
which  had  the  general  guardianship  of  refugees  and  had 
representatives  in  every  town  where  they  were  sheltered. 
With  these  organizations  the  Red  Cross  has  cooperated 
utilizing  their  extensive  machinery  in  getting  its  supplies 
into  the  hands  of  the  most  needy.  Mention  should  be 
made  too,  in  this  connection,  of  the  Women's  Alliance 
{Alleanza  Femminile)  which  also  extends  all  over  Italy. 

It  is  well  to  pause  a  moment  on  reaching  Rome  to  pay 
a  tribute  to  the  splendid  way  in  which  the  Italians  them- 

130 


ROME  — NAPLES  131 

selves  were  grappling  with  the  difficult  problem  of  civilian 
war  relief  under  conditions  of  unprecedented  hardship, 
lest  in  taking  this  tour  through  Italy  we  seem  to  be  unduly 
boasting  of  the  part  played  by  the  American  Ked  Cross. 
Now  it  is  an  Italian  trait,  no  doubt  deserving  of  all  com- 
mendation, though  apt  to  be  slightly  misleading,  to  ex- 
aggerate benefits  received  while  saying  little  or  nothing  of 
what  Italy  itself  is  accomplishing.  It  is  perhaps  an  ex- 
cess of  courtesy  on  the  one  hand  and  of  modesty  on  the 
other.  In  fact  our  Red  Cross  delegates  who  saw  behind 
the  scenes  the  work  of  the  Italians  were  often  embarrassed 
by  the  warmth  of  appreciation  with  which  their  own  ef- 
forts were  received. 

Besides  the  national  committees  referred  to  there  were, 
scattered  throughout  Italy,  innumerable  local  organiza- 
tions quietly  accomplishing  a  vast  amount  of  good  work  in 
the  face  of  all  but  insuperable  obstacles.  The  largest  and 
the  most  important  of  these  local  organizations  was  the 
Eoman  Committee  for  Civilian  War  Relief  (Comitato 
Romano  per  L' Organizzazione  Civile  durante  la  Guerra). 
This  was  the  official  body  appointed  for  relief  work  in  the 
city  of  Rome  and  its  immediate  environs  and  had  been 
formed  before  Italy's  entrance  into  the  war  by  certain 
prominent  Italians  whose  foresight  recognized  the  value  of 
preparedness  in  work  of  this  kind.  The  President  of  this 
Committee,  Colonel  Apolloni,  also  served  as  general  Liai- 
son Officer  for  the  American  Red  Cross,  which  organiza- 
tion he  served  with  the  utmost  loyalty  and  devotion.  The 
efficient  work  of  this  Roman  Committee  from  the  out- 
break of  the  war  covered  all  manner  of  activities  such  as 
were  undertaken  by  the  American  Red  Cross,  including 
what  might  be  called  a  Home  Service  Department  with  its 
own  legal  bureau ;  and  it  also  provided  courses  for  the  in- 
struction of  mutilated  soldiers  and  ran  a  successful  em- 
ployment bureau.  This  work  was  accomplished  on  a  very 
large  scale  and  was  so  excellently  done  that  the  American 
Red  Cross  contributed  one  million  two  hundred  thousand 


132         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

lire,  besides  large  gifts  of  supplies,  to  enable  it  to  extend 
its  work  still  further. 

The  work  which  the  American  Eed  Cross  independently 
undertook  in  the  Roman  District,  which  was  made  to  in- 
clude the  provinces  of  Lazio,  Umbria,  and  Abruzzi,  was 
separately  organized  and  placed  under  a  local  delegate 
with  headquarters  in  the  city  of  Rome.  Some  of  the 
more  unique  features  of  this  work  have  already  been  de- 
scribed. An  idea  of  its  extent  may  be  gathered  from  the 
fact  that  in  all  Yl  activities  were  maintained.^  These 
included  43'  asili  and  day  nurseries,  7  public  kitchens,  11 
workshops  and  shoe  shops.  Besides  the  summer  colony  at 
Monte  Luco,  described  above,  a  seaside  camp  was  installed 
at  Nettuno  and  continued  for  the  three  summer  months. 
Here  soldiers'  children  were  sent  in  three  groups,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  each  month,  living  in  tents  on  the  beaches. 
Children  predisposed  to  tuberculosis  were  selected  and  the 
results  were  most  satisfactory.  Ansemic,  thin,  and  under- 
fed children  became  robust  and  joyous,  healthy,  and  ex- 
pansive. Two  institutions  for  war  orphans  came  under 
the  care  of  the  Red  Cross  for  the  duration  of  the  war,  and 
the  buildings  in  which  they  were  housed  were  recon- 
structed and  equipped. 

At  Anzio  on  the  sea  near  Rome  a  large  building  was 
reconstructed  and  converted  into  a  hospital,  and  to  this 
was  transferred  the  equipment  of  the  Red  Cross  hospital 
at  Genoa  after  that  institution  had  been  closed.  There 
had  been  no  public  hospital  at  Anzio-Nettuno,  with  a 
population  of  some  twelve  thousand,  poor  and  in  great 
need.  A  special  tax  has  been  placed  for  its  maintenance 
in  perpetuity  and  this  hospital  will  remain  as  one  of  the 
most  appreciated  memorials  of  the  work  of  the  American 
Red  Cross  in  Italy. 

1  There  were  besides  in  this  district  89  Italian  institutions  for 
civilian  relief  which  received  some  form  of  Red  Cross  assistance  and 
54  municipal  organizations  in  small  towns  where  there  were  no  special 
Red  Cross  activities,  which  were  given  food  and  clothing  for  dis- 
tribution. 


ROME  —  NAPLES  133 

A  Soldiers'  Club  (Casa  del  Soldato)  was  established  in 
the  old  Borghese  Palace  at  ISTettuno  which  was  remodeled 
for  this  use.  It  consists  of  an  enormous  hall  with  a  great 
open  fire  place,  two  reading  and  writing  rooms,  a  kitchen 
and  buffet,  and  all  the  appurtenances  of  a  club.  It  is  pro- 
vided with  musical  instruments  and  games,  and  serves  as 
a  place  of  comfort  and  recreation  for  eight  hundred  or 
more  Italian  soldiers  daily  who  would  otherwise  in  this 
desolate  village  have  no  place  to  go.  There  is  a  great 
military  training  base  just  outside  Nettuno,  and  inasmuch 
as  the  Princess  Borghese  is  to  continue  this  club,  it  will 
not  cease  its  usefulness  after  the  departure  of  the  Ameri- 
can Red  Cross. 

It  is  an  indication  of  the  success  of  the  work  in  the 
Roman  district  that  a  strong  local  committee  has  been 
formed  which  has  undertaken  to  continue  all  the  Red  Cross 
activities  except  those  which  are  distinctly  temporary  in 
character. 

NAPLES 

The  appearance  of  IN'aples  in  war  time  was  not  very 
different  from  that  in  time  of  peace;  there  was  the  same 
surface  beauty,  the  same  inward  misery.  Perhaps  this 
was  because  in  normal  times  poverty  and  wretchedness  are 
so  great  that  the  increase  of  suffering  due  to  war  conditions 
was  less  in  evidence.  One  night  indeed  the  people  were 
sharply  reminded  of  the  war,  when  the  Huns  sailed  over 
the  city,  and,  as  if  in  pure  malice,  dropped  a  score  of 
bombs,  hitting  a  hospital  with  their  usual  accurate  marks- 
manship, and  taking  their  toll  in  innocent  lives. 

With  the  exception  of  the  large  and  successful  station 
canteen  for  soldiers,  and  the  effective  emergency  relief 
work  during  the  influenza  epidemic,  the  independent  activ- 
ities of  the  American  Red  Cross  in  this  district,  thirteen  in 
number,  were  mostly  concerned  with  the  care  of  refugees. 
This  comprised  not  only  emergency  assistance  during  the 
early  days,  but  also  the  continued  care  of  some  three  hun- 


134         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

dred  refugees  lioused  in  the  Hotel  Victoria.  These  re- 
mained throughout  a  special  charge  of  the  Red  Cross, 
which  provided  a  workroom  for  the  women  and  a  day 
nursery  and  school  for  their  children.  The  children  were 
given  the  best  of  care,  and  good  schooling,  and,  when 
summer  came,  bi-weekly  outings  on  the  beach  at  Bagnoli. 
About  seventy  went  at  a  time.  They  were  given  free 
trams  to  take  them  on  the  forty  minute  ride  from  Naples. 
The  children  would  don  their  bathing  suits  under  their 
outer  garments  before  leaving  the  Hotel  Victoria  so  that 
no  time  would  be  lost  when  the  shore  was  reached,  and 
the  minute  the  train  stopped  they  would  rush  off  with  a 
shout,  and  before  you  could  walk  from  the  tram  to  the 
beach,  seventy  red  and  white  bathing  suits  would  be  gaily 
splashing  about  in  the  health-giving  salt  water.  After- 
wards under  the  shelter  of  a  tent  flying  the  American  and 
Italian  flags  they  would  rest  and  sleep  until  it  was  time 
for  the  homeward  journey.  In  this  way  the  little  children 
from  the  north  were  safely  carried  through  the  Neapolitan 
summer.  After  the  bathing  season  was  over  physical  cul- 
ture classes  were  started  in  the  American  Red  Cross  school, 
which  continued  the  good  work  of  the  summer.  'No 
refugees  received  better  care  in  their  enforced  banish- 
ment from  home  than  this  little  group  which  was  fortunate 
enough  to  come  under  the  protection  of  the  American 
Red  Cross. 

Assistance  was  also  extended  from  the  Naples  center 
to  Ischia,  Sorrento  and  to  the  Island  of  Capri.  This  little 
island  with  its  population  of  seven  thousand  had  given 
one  thousand  soldiers  to  the  Italian  Army.  Dependent 
upon  tourists  for  its  subsistence,  conditions  here  were 
very  hard,  and,  cooperating  with  an  American  woman  long 
resident  in  Capri,  the  American  Red  Cross  gave  generous 
assistance  in  supplying  the  soldiers'  wives  with  work  and 
caring  for  their  children  in  two  asili,  one  at  Marina 
Grande  and  the  other  at  Capri  proper.  The  latter  was 
in  the  beautiful  old  monastery  of  Santa  Teresa,  formerly 


ROME  — NAPLES  135 

a  convent  of  Franciscan  nuns,  a  noble  old  seventeenth 
century  building,  with  a  large  courtyard  in  the  middle 
and  broad  high  doorways  and  a  grand  stairway  leading  to 
the  second  story  where  in  three  cheerful  rooms  the  children 
forgot  their  sorrows  in  song  and  play,  and  received  ele- 
mentary instruction,  which  included  lessons  in  deport- 
ment and  cleanliness,  from  the  quaint  little  mouse-like 
Sisters  with  their  large  starched  ruffs  and  full  skirts.  In 
connection  with  these  asili,  run  by  the  same  kindly  nuns, 
were  two  small  Red  Cross  soup  kitchens. 

But  the  main  part  of  the  work  of  the  American 
Red  Cross  for  civilian  relief  in  the  district  of  Naples 
was  accomplished  by  giving  assistance  to  some  sixty 
local  institutions.  We  must  not  leave  Naples,  however, 
without  calling  attention  to  the  emergency  dispensary 
established  in  March  in  the  Galleria  Vittorio  and  later 
continued  in  the  same  building  with  the  other  American 
Red  Cross  activities.  This  dispensary  was  run  by  the 
Red  Cross,  which  also  provided  a  district  nurse,  but  the 
medical  and  surgical  work  was  done  by  the  ofl&cers  of  the 
United  States  Public  Health  Service,  especially  Dr.  Carl 
Ramus,  who,  when  the  need  was  greatest,  was  on  hand 
daily  rendering  untiring  aid.  After  America  entered  the 
war  and  emigration  ceased,  their  regular  duties  had  been 
much  restricted,  and  they  volunteered  for  Red  Cross  serv- 
ice, and  before  the  first  of  November  had  cared  for  two 
thousand  patients  and  made  more  than  three  thousand 
visits.  "  It  is  due  largely  to  the  activities  of  the  Ameri- 
can Red  Cross,"  writes  Dr.  Ramus,  "  that  America  is 
better  understood  and  appreciated  at  Naples  than  ever  be- 
fore," And  he  adds,  "We  feel  honored  to  have  co- 
operated in  that  excellent  work." 

AVELLINO 

A  separate  American  Red  Cross  center  was  established 
at  Avellino,  some  forty  miles  east  of  Naples  as  the  crow 
flies,  but  with  war  time  conditions  of  communication  a 


136         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

Sabbath  day's  journey  away.  This  district  included  all 
the  rural  towns  and  villages  dotted  over  the  beautiful  foot- 
hills of  the  Apennines  in  the  provinces  of  Salerno, 
Avellino,  Benevento  and  Campobasso. 

The  conditions  in  the  Avellino  district  were  particularly 
bad.  There  was  universal  poverty,  much  intensified  by 
the  presence  of  large  numbers  of  refugees.  The  Govern- 
ment had  found  it  necessary  to  requisition  the  grain  pro- 
duced in  this  district  and  it  was  hard  for  the  people,  in 
their  general  ignorance,  with  a  vivid  realization  of  their 
own  difficulties  in  securing  food,  to  appreciate  the  justice 
or  the  necessity  of  this  emergency  measure.  There  were 
a  great  many  Germans  interned  here,  many  of  them  well 
provided  with  money  which  they  spent  freely,  and  these 
proved  a  demoralizing  influence.  They  were  forever  fo- 
menting discontent,  making  capital  out  of  the  ignorance 
of  the  people,  and  of  course  their  propaganda  included 
the  usual  arraignment  of  America  and  her  motives.  The 
American  Red  Cross  managed  to  reach  practically  all  of 
the  widely  scattered  towns  in  this  extended  district  with 
some  form  of  war  relief,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  see- 
ing the  attitude  of  the  people  change  from  one  of  in- 
difference or  dull  hostility  to  one  of  unbounded 
enthusiasm. 

The  work  of  the  Red  Cross  here  presents  a  marked  con- 
trast to  that  in  ISTaples  and  indicates  the  differences  that  re- 
sult from  the  individuality  of  the  delegates  with  the 
regional  method  of  organization.  Worthy  Italian  institu- 
tions were  indeed  given  backing,  but  the  chief  efforts  were 
centered  in  independent  Red  Cross  enterprises,  upwards  of 
fifty  in  number.  The  activities  themselves  presented  few 
new  features,  but  they  were  wisely  differentiated  so  that 
they  formed  a  sort  of  interlocking  system,  one  activity  sup- 
porting another.  Another  characteristic  of  the  work  here 
was  the  promptness  with  which  ideas,  once  clearly  grasped, 
were  put  into  execution.  For  example,  one  day  the  dele- 
gates were  taking  luncheon  with  the  Prefect  and  on  the 


ROME  — NAPLES  137 

table  was  a  bottle  of  Telese  water.  This  led  to  a  dis- 
cussion of  the  wonderful  benefits  of  the  sulphur  baths  at 
Telese  and  it  occurred  to  our  delegates  that  this  would  be 
an  excellent  thing  for  the  anaemic  and  sicklj  children  of 
soldiers.  That  same  afternoon  Telese  was  visited,  an 
available  farm  house  secured  rent  free;  and  two  weeks 
later  it  was  opened  completely  furnished,  everything  ex- 
cept a  few  kitchen  utensils  having  been  provided  by  the 
Red  Cross  shops  in  the  Avellino  district, —  the  beds  from 
the  carpenter  shop,  mattresses  from  the  mattress  shop, 
linens,  etc.,  from  the  workrooms.  Twenty-four  children 
were  taken  at  a  time  and  remained  for  two  weeks.  Every 
day  a  bus  took  them  from  the  farm  to  the  baths,  and  the 
owner  of  the  Grand  Hotel  gave  the  children  the  use  of 
the  Hotel  Park  as  a  playground.  The  mothers  were  at 
first  reluctant  to  let  their  children  go  from  home,  but  after 
the  first  group  returned,  the  evidence  of  benefit  in  im- 
proved health  was  convincing  and  there  was  great  competi- 
tion thereafter  for  the  places  available.  Once  when  the 
camion  arrived  at  the  farm  it  was  found  to  contain  twenty- 
five  children  instead  of  the  usual  number  of  twenty-four. 
So  the  children  were  checked  up  by  name  and  the  stow- 
away proved  to  be  a  little  boy  of  two,  all  smiling  and 
happy.  Of  course  he  was  kept.  About  a  week  later  a 
woman  walked  into  the  Red  Cross  office  at  Avellino  and 
timidly  inquired  how  her  boy  was  getting  on  at  Telese. 
It  appeared  that  so  great  had  been  her  anxiety  to  have  her 
child  secure  the  benefit  of  the  treatment  that,  taking  ad- 
vantage of  the  crowd  of  happy  mothers  surrounding  the 
camion  to  bid  farewell  to  their  youngsters,  she  had 
smuggled  her  baby  in  unbeknownst. 

On  another  occasion  a  refugee  priest  located  at 
Quadrelle  came  to  Eed  Cross  headquarters  with  the  re- 
quest that  a  workroom  be  established  there.  He  made  a 
favorable  impression  and  was  immediately  given  some  ma- 
terial to  take  back  with  him  in  order  that  he  might  show 
what  his  proteges  could  do.     In  a  couple  of  days  he  was 


138         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

back  with  the  material  all  made  up.  A  successful  little 
workroom  was  soon  going  at  Quadrelle.  The  large  num- 
ber of  workrooms  established  in  this  district  had  been 
made  possible  at  small  expense  by  conducting  sales  of  the 
garments  to  the  families  of  soldiers,  whose  needs  had  pre- 
viously been  investigated,  at  what  was  a  nominal  price,  but 
nearly  sufficient  to  pay  all  costs  save  that  of  the  material, 
which  the  Red  Cross  gave.  The  cost  was  also  kept  down 
and  waste  eliminated  by  having  all  of  the  material  used 
throughout  this  district  cut  at  the  Avellino  laboratory  by 
a  large  electric  cutting  machine.  Crates  and  boxes  were 
turned  to  good  use  in  the  carpenter  shop  and  the  raw  ma- 
terial for  the  tin  shop  consisted  of  empty  condensed  milk 
cans  and  gasoline  cans.  Skilled  workmen  from  amongst 
the  refugees  were  put  in  charge  of  most  of  the  activities. 
An  experienced  upholsterer  from  Udine  ran  the  mattress 
factory,  which  turned  out  four  hundred  mattresses  a  month 
stuffed  with  dried  seaweed.  A  refugee  baker,  utilizing  an 
old  fifteenth  century  stone  stove  in  the  refugee  home  at 
Monteforte,  made  the  bread  for  the  Red  Cross  children  at 
that  place  and  also  at  Avellino.  Having  been  a  gardener 
in  his  former  home  he  undertook  to  teach  the  children 
gardening,  each  child  having  its  own  individual  garden. 
In  this  way  vegetables  were  grown  for  the  soup  kitchens  as 
well  as  for  the  families  of  the  boys. 

A  children's  dispensary  established  at  Avellino  was  a 
model  in  equipment  and  management.  Here  there  were 
at  least  one  hundred  consultations  daily  and  a  number  of 
operations.  Incidentally  all  the  children  of  refugees  and 
soldiers  were  vaccinated.  An  American  nurse  in  charge 
with  her  seven  Italian  assistant  nurses  averaged  eight 
hundred  home  calls  every  month,  accomplishing  an  im- 
mense amount  of  good  and  bringing  the  Red  Cross  most 
intimately  into  touch  with  the  lives  of  the  people. 

A  unique  feature  of  the  work  in  this  district  was  a 
chain  of  model  houses.  Here  the  children  were  taught  the 
principles  of  housekeeping,  cooking,  washing  and  ironing, 


ROME  — NAPLES  139 

making  beds,  how  to  serve  a  meal  properly,  how  to  knit 
and  to  make  their  own  clothes  and  to  mend  them.  Each 
day  a  different  group  of  children  was  taken  into  the 
kitchen  and  taught  to  cook.  There  were  in  each  house 
model  rooms  to  show  how  things  should  he  done,  the  simple 
furniture  being  made  in  the  Red  Cross  carpenter  shop. 
There  was  also  a  bath  where,  under  the  supervision  of  a 
nurse,  they  were  taught  to  bathe, —  for  many  of  these  chil- 
dren a  novel  experience. 

When  the  Red  Cross  representatives  first  went  to  Avel- 
lino  the  streets  were  infested  by  ragamuffins,  regular  little 
bandits  who,  with  no  restraining  parental  hand,  fathers  at 
the  front  and  mothers  busy,  were  bent  on  mischief.  In 
the  general  opinion  of  the  town  these  were  just  hopeless 
outcasts.  The  wife  of  the  Red  Cross  delegate  was  of  a 
different  opinion.  ISTear  the  Red  Cross  office  was  a  large 
unused  plot  of  ground,  uneven  and  stony  and  covered 
with  refuse.  Why  not  turn  this  unsightly  spot  into  a 
playground  for  the  Avellino  street  boys  ?  The  young 
"  bandits  "  seized  the  idea  and  fell  upon  the  field,  working 
like  a  busy  army  of  ants,  stopping  only  long  enough  at  noon 
for  the  bowl  of  soup  given  them  at  the  Red  Cross  soup 
kitchen.  The  playground  was  soon  in  order,  a  modest  one 
but  the  boys'  own.  Here  early  every  morning  they  were 
drilled  by  a  young  soldier,  home  on  convalescent  leave. 
They  were  then  organized  into  squads  and  put  to  work  in 
the  various  Red  Cross  shops  where  they  learned  carpentry, 
tin-smithing  and  the  art  of  making  mattresses ;  and  there 
was  also  a  toyshop,  where  they  made  toys  used  in  the 
children's  playrooms  all  over  Italy.  They  were  paid  ten 
cents  for  half  a  day's  work,  and  were  only  allowed  to  be- 
long to  the  organization  if  they  attended  school  the  other 
half  of  the  day.  They  learned  to  work  remarkably  well 
and  developed  a  splendid  spirit  and  could  always  be 
counted  upon  by  the  delegates  for  any  kind  of  work  from 
unloading  cars  to  running  errands.  They  were  very 
proud  of  their  brown  uniforms  made  in  the  Red  Cross 


140         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

-workrooms  and  acquired  quite  a  military  bearing  and 
saluted  with  great  punctiliousness.  They  marched,  these 
little  browTiies,  in  the  Armistice  parade,  carrying  the 
American  and  Italian  flags,  and  the  general  reviewing 
the  parade  was  so  much  impressed  with  their  soldierly 
bearing  that  he  wrote  a  letter  complimenting  the  Eed  Cross 
on  this  work. 

The  journey  from  N'aples  south  through  Basilicata, 
Puglie,  and  Calabria,  on  through  the  heel  and  toe  of  the 
"  boot,"  and  over  to  eastern  Sicily,  takes  one  through 
scenes  of  ever  increasing  poverty  and  wretchedness.  It  is 
impossible  to  convey  in  words  an  adequate  impression  of 
the  misery  and  desolation  which  more  than  three  years  of 
war  had  produced  in  this  poorest  section  of  Italy,  where 
even  in  times  of  peace  the  struggle  for  existence  had  been 
fierce  and  unequal.  With  all  the  able-bodied  men  between 
the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty-five  called  to  the  colors,  the 
condition  of  the  wives  and  children  and  the  aged  parents, 
deprived  of  their  means  of  support,  was  wretched  in  the 
extreme.  In  view  of  the  high  cost  of  necessities,  the 
meagre  government  allowance  was  hardly  sufficient  to 
stave  off  starvation.  The  people  crowded  more  than  ever 
into  hovels,  slept  on  bundles  of  corn  husks,  or  were  packed 
three  and  four  in  a  bed;  the  children,  and  often  the 
mothers,  had  only  a  few  rags  to  cover  their  nakedness, 
and  there  was  no  money  to  buy  the  needed  medicines  for 
the  sick. 

BAR! 

The  American  Eed  Cross  did  a  great  work  in  this  sec- 
tion of  Italy.  The  first  part  of  this  story,  however,  we 
should  gladly  pass  over  in  silence.  A  center  was  early 
established  for  the  province  of  Puglie  in  the  city  of  Bari, 
an  important  seaport  on  the  Adriatic,  with  sixty  thousand 
inhabitants,  but  little  known  to  American  tourists.  It 
must  frankly  be  confessed  that  the  Red  Cross  work  here 
was  for  many  months  a  failure.     Of  course  something  was 


ROME  —  NAPLES  141 

done, —  some  milk  was  distributed,  and  a  workroom  was 
run  for  a  time, —  but  it  was  all  so  little,  and  was  done  in 
such  a  spirit  as  not  to  make  the  slightest  impression  on  the 
life  of  the  community.  But  a  change  of  administration  at 
Bari  which  took  effect  on  the  first  of  October  remedied  all 
this.  With  a  small  office  force,  but  with  whole-hearted 
backing  from  Rome,  and  with  the  devoted  assistance  of  a 
local  committee  of  twenty-five  women  of  Bari,  the  new 
administration  soon  had  in  full  swing  all  the  typical  Red 
Cross  activities,  and  was  reaching  the  most  needy  in  every 
part  of  the  city  of  Bari  and  in  the  outlying  districts. 
Many  popular  demonstrations  testified  to  the  success  of 
this  work  and  the  gratitude  of  the  people.  If  there  had 
been  a  bad  beginning,  it  is  a  satisfaction  to  know  that  there 
was  a  brilliant,  if  late,  recovery. 

KEGGIO  CALABRIA 

It  is  a  relief  to  pass  on  to  Basilicata  and  Calabria  where 
the  work  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  with  a  center  at 
Reggio  Calabria,  was  wisely  directed  from  the  first,  and 
made  to  meet  the  special  conditions  which  there  prevailed. 
The  staple  products  of  this  part  of  Italy  are  chiefly 
oranges  and  lemons  and  olive  oil,  though  a  small  amount 
of  grain  is  produced  on  the  Calabrian  plateau.  The  staple 
diet  of  everyone  consisted,  prior  to  the  war,  almost  ex- 
clusively of  bread.  This  had  become  difficult  to  secure, 
and  was  only  to  be  had  in  small  quantities.  The  Red 
Cross  assistance  naturally  took  the  form  of  the  establish- 
ment of  a  number  of  soup  kitchens,  some  thirteen  in  all, 
and  of  an  exceptionally  large  and  widespread  distribution 
of  milk  and  white  flour.  Milk  had  actually  become  so 
scarce  that  it  sold  as  high  as  ten  lire  ($2.00)  a  litre,  and 
white  flour  was  not  to  be  had.  Several  asili  were  estab- 
lished, the  most  interesting  being  at  Scilla,  built  by  old 
men,  the  only  masons  left  in  the  town,  with  the  assistance 
of  young  girls.  Now  Scilla  is  the  Scylla  of  Homer  which 
faced  the  whirlpool  of  Charybdis.     The  sirens  who  ac- 


142         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

cording  to  the  legend  lured  the  mariners  to  destruction  on 
this  rocky  promontory  are  gone  and  Charybdis  has  dis- 
appeared, but  their  places  were  taken  by  the  more  deadly 
submarine  and  the  floating  mine.  A  modern  Ulysses  pass- 
ing this  way  on  his  wanderings  would  see  a  flag  with  stars 
and  stripes  floating  high  above  this  menacing  rock,  and 
might,  instead  of  the  sirens'  song,  catch  the  sound  of  chil- 
dren singing  and  shouting  at  their  play,  and  "  Viva 
America !  Viva  la  Croce  Eossa  Americana !  "  would 
surely  be  part  of  the  burden  of  their  cry. 

But  while  railroads  skirt  the  Ionian  and  Tyrrhenian 
coasts  of  Calabria,  the  interior  is  all  but  inaccessible, 
reached  only  by  poor  roads  that  in  wet  weather  are  often 
impassable,  for  bridges  are  scarce  and  rivers  must  gen- 
erally be  forded.  It  was  impossible  personally  to  super- 
vise activities  in  the  interior,  so  most  of  the  independent 
work  of  the  American  Red  Cross  was  done  in  the  coast 
■towns.  But  all  the  asili  throughout  this  region  (one  hun- 
dred and  ten  caring  for  over  ten  thousand  children)  were 
supplied  with  white  bread,  and  colossal  amounts  of  con- 
densed milk  were  distributed ;  clothes  were  also  given,  and 
in  many  cases  the  Red  Cross  supplied  funds  to  put  strug- 
gling asili  on  their  feet.  Now  poverty  and  ignorance  sup- 
ply fertile  soil  for  envy  and  jealousy,  but  a  poor  soil  for 
cooperation  and  public  spirit,  and  there  were  few  phil- 
anthropic organizations  in  this  district  with  which  the 
American  Red  Cross  could  cooperate.  So  the  following 
method  was  generally  adopted :  supplies  were  sent  to  the 
asili  direct  and  at  the  same  time  notice  of  the  exact  amount 
was  sent  to  the  Mayor  of  the  town,  to  the  Prefect  of  the 
Province,  and  also  to  the  Royal  Superintendent  of  Schools, 
so  that  its  use  was  checked  up  from  different  angles. 

Calabria  is  no  stranger  to  catastrophe.  The  people  have 
not  yet  recovered  from  the  effects  of  the  earthquake  in 
1907  when  entire  towns  were  destroyed.  Ruins  are  in. 
evidence  everywhere,  and  in  numerous  villages  where  not 
many    houses    had   been    left    standing   the    inhabitants, 


ROME  — NAPLES  143 

sheltered  in  little  frame  huts,  were  trying  to  rebuild  their 
commerce  and  industry,  when  the  war  came  upon  them 
with  its  blighting  influence.  ISTowhere  was  Red  Cross  as- 
sistance more  needed  or  better  deserved,  for  the  Calabrian 
soldiers  at  the  front  were  fighting  as  bravely  as  any  in 
our  common  cause.  Calabria,  like  its  neighbor  Sicily,  in 
its  long  and  varied  history,  has  been  tossed  about  from  one 
master  to  another  from  the  days  of  the  early  Greeks  to  the 
days  of  Austrian  domination.  Many  foreign  powers  have 
planted  their  flags  on  Calabria's  soil  and  every  time  this 
has  been  the  signal  for  bloodshed  and  devastation,  and  the 
peasant  has  been  the  chief  victim.  At  last  a  foreign  flag 
has  been  set  up  in  Calabria  which  the  native  has  come  to 
look  upon  with  love  and  trust,  for  he  knows  that  it  stands, 
not  for  renewed  exploitation,  but  for  material  and  moral 
aid,  that  it  is  the  symbol  of  plenty  and  of  peace. 

SICILY 

All  the  soldiers  on  their  way  to  and  from  Sicily  stopped 
at  Villa  San  Giovanni,  on  the  Straits  of  Messina.  A  large 
kitchen  was  maintained  here  by  the  Red  Cross  where  sol- 
diers and  refugees  in  transit  received  the  nourishing  min- 
estra,  which  was  served  on  the  arrival  of  all  trains.  As 
many  as  twenty-six  hundred  have  been  fed  here  in  a  day 
before  continuing  on  their  journey  to  the  south,  or  over  to 
Messina,  with  which  city  there  was  ferry  communication, 
—  a  short  run  but  made  dangerous  by  the  ever  present  sub- 
marine. Let  us  cross  with  them  to  Messina.  In  spite  of 
its  unkempt  appearance  this  city  contains  men  of  wealth 
and  public  spirit  who  have  organized  for  war  relief  and 
handled  the  situation  so  well  that  it  has  not  been  necessary 
for  the  Red  Cross  to  attempt  much  here. 

It  did,  however,  establish  a  seaside  camp  at  Faro,  eight 
miles  from  the  town,  for  Messina's  soldiers'  delicate  chil- 
dren, especially  those  predisposed  to  tuberculosis,  thereby 
enabling  a  public-spirited  local  doctor,  who  was  made  di- 
rector of  the  institution,  to  realize  a  long  cherished  dream. 


144         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

And  here  while  the  bodies  enjoyed  the  cure  of  sun  and  sea, 
the  minds  were  not  neglected,  for  in  the  early  hours  of 
the  morning  the  children,  seated  on  benches  on  the  sand, 
had  their  daily  lesson,  which  the  maestro  wrote  on  a  four- 
legged  blackboard  that  stood  beside  his  elevated  desk. 

TAOKMINA 

The  work  of  the  American  Red  Cross  in  Eastern  Sicily 
was  directed  from  Taonnina ;  the  headquarters  for  the 
work  in  the  western  half  of  the  island  were  at  Palermo. 
Most  of  the  independent  activities  were  carried  on  in  or 
near  these  centers.  Taormina  was  chosen  because  it 
seemed  to  be  the  city  of  greatest  need,  the  larger  towns 
along  the  shore  being  better  able  to  care  for  themselves. 
The  many  tourists  who  have  visited  this  spot  in  times  gone 
by  probably  remember  it  only  as  a  place  of  surpassing 
beauty,  where  care  and  sorrow  were  forgotten.  Just  above 
the  town,  between  two  rugged  peaks,  are  the  ruins  of  the 
old  Greek  theatre.  Sitting  on  the  upper  tier  one  can  still 
enjoy  the  splendid  view  which  the  Greeks  had  before  the 
Romans  put  up  the  ugly  brick  wall  back  of  the  stage  and 
turned  the  orchestra  into  an  arena  for  gladiatorial  com- 
bats. On  the  right,  high  up,  is  the  old  castle,  said  to 
have  been  the  ancient  acropolis  of  Taormina,  and  a  little 
farther  on  one  can  see  the  town  of  Mola  perched  on  another 
mountain.  On  a  shelf  of  rock  below  rests  the  town  of 
Taormina.  On  the  left,  seven  hundred  feet  lower,  lies 
the  sea,  and  straight  ahead  towers  Etna,  magnificent  in  its 
mantle  of  snow,  sending  up  clouds  of  steam  from  the  top, 
its  broad  shoulder  gradually  descending  to  the  left  until 
it  touches  the  sea.  In  the  far  distance  may  be  seen  the 
city  of  Syracuse.  Never  did  a  theatre  have  a  more  superb 
setting. 

But  the  Americans  in  Taormina  in  war  time  had  no 
leisure  to  dwell  on  its  beauty ;  the  human  problems  in  the 
town  itself  were  all  absorbing.  For  them  Taormina 
stands  for  sadness  and  sorrow.     The  soil  of  the  surround- 


ROME  —  NAPLES  145 

ing  hills  is  scant  and  barren  and,  except  for  a  few  acres 
of  vines  and  of  almond,  olive  and  orange  trees,  produces 
nothing.  Manv  of  the  inhabitants  still  follow  the  life  of 
fishermen,  but  their  livelihood  has  been  cut  off  during  the 
war  on  account  of  the  submarines,  which  make  everything 
but  near-shore  fishing  impossible.  Long  ago  the  people 
eked  out  a  living  by  silk  and  lace  manufacture.  But 
about  twenty  years  ago  the  tourists  discovered  that  this 
was  one  of  the  most  beautiful  spots  on  earth,  and  they 
have  been  coming  ever  since  in  increasing  numbers,  as 
many  as  nine  hundred  at  a  time  in  the  height  of  the  season 
before  the  war.  Industries  had  died  out,  and  the  people, 
of  whom  there  are  about  four  thousand,  lived  on  tourists- 
They  had  been  in  a  bad  way  ever  since  the  war  put  an  end 
to  the  stream  of  tourists,  and  when,  after  Caporetto,  twelve 
hundred  refugees  were  sent  here,  crowding  the  hotels  that 
had  been  requisitioned  by  the  Government,  their  condition 
was  desperate. 

Legend  has  it  that  Sicily  was  once  the  habitat  of  giants, 
Cyclops  and  lotus  eaters.  The  Sicilians,  of  small  stature, 
could  only  suggest  giants  by  contrast,  and  it  is  hard  to 
envisage  a  fierce  cyclops  in  this  land  of  universal  friend- 
liness, although  when  Etna  thunders,  imagination  can  pic- 
ture Polyphemus  buried  in  the  crater  for  his  sins  and  ex- 
ploding in  his  "WTath  over  the  loss  of  Galatea.  But  this  is 
still  the  land  of  lotus  eaters,  and  of  no  part  is  this  truer 
than  of  Taormina.  The  few  well-to-do  citizens  and 
foreigners  settled  here  were  mostly  indifferent  to  the 
wretched  condition  of  the  people ;  their  consciences  asleep, 
they  lived  for  sensuousness  and  distraction,  so  that  before 
the  war  this  town  had  a  reputation  for  luxury  and  indul- 
gence that  rivalled  that  of  ancient  Sybaris.  One  or  two 
English  and  American  residents  came  to  the  assistance  of 
the  Red  Cross,  but  for  the  most  part  it  played  a  lone  hand 
in  Taormina. 

Most  of  the  work  of  the  American  Ked  Cross  centered 
in  or  grew  out  of  the  Home  for  Convalescent  Children, 


146         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

which  was  one  of  the  earliest  activities  established  and 
was  a  model  little  institution.  Over  three  hundred  chil- 
dren were  nourished  and  cared  for  in  this  home,  remain- 
ing from  three  to  eight  weeks,  according  to  need.  ISTot  a 
few  of  them  were  passed  on  from  here  to  the  beautiful  Red 
Cross  seaside  home  at  Mazzaro,  just  below  Taormina,  and 
all  the  rest,  after  their  discharge,  were  provided  for  a  time 
with  broth  and  milk  from  the  dispensary,  which  was,  in 
a  way,  an  adjunct  to  the  convalescent  home  and  greatly 
extended  its  usefulness,  dispensing  the  needed  nourishment 
to  the  sickly  who  could  not  be  provided  for  in  the  Red 
Cross  home.  District  nurses  investigated  all  cases,  and 
aid  was  given  on  their  recommendation.  These  district 
nurses,  with  a  corps  of  refugee  assistants,  carried  the 
ministrations  of  the  Red  Cross  into  many  a  home  in 
Taormina. 

Nearly  every  one  of  the  children  in  the  convalescent 
home  was  the  central  figure  in  a  little  tragic  tale,  and  the 
kindly  directress,  who  loved  and  mothered  them  all,  knew 
to  the  last  detail  the  history  of  each.  Here  for  example,  to 
take  an  illustration,  are  two  little  sisters,  inseparable  night 
and  day.  They  are  orphans.  Their  mother  died  of 
Spanish  fever  in  the  early  fall,  and  the  Red  Cross  took 
them  in.  The  father  at  that  time  was  serving  his  country 
as  a  sailor.  He  came  back  to  visit  his  children  and  was 
much  pleased  to  find  that  they  were  so  well  taken  care  of. 
But  not  long  after  he  had  left  his  ship  struck  a  mine  and 
he  was  killed.  One  day  the  Red  Cross  gave  a  "  movie  " 
show  and  all  the  children  went.  One  of  the  films  pictured 
Red  Cross  work  in  Taormina  and  had  been  taken  some 
time  before.  Suddenly  on  the  screen  these  children  saw 
their  mother,  moving  about  and  looking  very  real,  and  they 
clapped  their  hands  in  glee  exclaiming,  "  See,  our  Mamma 
is  not  dead !  "  Joy  once  more  came  into  their  lives.  The 
Red  Cross,  though  not  able  to  produce  the  mother,  did, 
through  the  efforts  of  the  foster-mother,  the  directress,  se- 


ROME  — NAPLES  14T 

cure  a  home  for  these  waifs  when  its  work  in  Taormina 
was  brought  to  a  close. 

A  large  workroom  was  established  in  Taormina,  in  the 
ballroom  of  the  Hotel  San  Domenico, —  once  a  convent 
dating  from  the  fourteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries, 
made  over  into  a  hotel  and  owned  by  an  Austrian  —  which 
through  a  system  of  relays  managed  to  give  employment  to 
more  than  six  hundred  refugees  and  soldiers'  wives.  A 
smaller  workroom  employing  thirty  refugees  and  sup- 
ported by  the  Red  Cross  and  making  garments  for  soldiers, 
was  under  the  direction  of  "  Mother  Mary,"  a  gentle  and 
lovable  British  nun  who,  as  Superior  of  the  Franciscan 
Missionaries  of  Mary,  has  for  many  years  devoted  herself 
to  work  among  the  poor  of  this  town. 

There  was  scarcely  a  home  in  Taormina  that  did  not  re- 
ceive some  form  of  Red  Cross  assistance.  The  Italian 
Army  doctor  who  took  care  of  the  Red  Cross  children, 
after  the  refugee  doctor  who  had  at  first  had  charge  of  them 
had  returned  to  his  home  in  Udine,  was  most  enthusiastic 
over  the  work  accomplished  in  Taormina.  He  said  he 
could  not  find  words  to  express  his  appreciation :  It  had 
been  "  miraculous,"  —  it  had  saved  the  lives  of  the  chil- 
dren and  kept  the  people  from  starving.  He  was  sure 
that  without  its  assistance  almost  fifty  per  cent  of  the 
population  in  the  town  would  have  died.  This  doctor  who 
was  on  sick  leave  with  a  mortal  illness,  although  never  free 
from  pain,  had  for  two  years  been  devoting  himself  to  the 
sick  of  Taormina.  But  he  could  not  shake  off  a  feeling  of 
despondency,  not  for  himself,  but  for  the  community, 
whose  load  he  seemed  to  have  taken  upon  his  own 
shoulders.  "  There  is  so  much,"  he  said,  "  so  much  that 
should  be  done.  And  we  can  do  so  little.  The  schools 
should  teach  hygiene  and  sanitation.  But  how  can  people 
keep  clean  when  all  the  water  in  the  house  is  carried  on 
the  head  from  the  fountain  in  the  square,  where  the  only 
place  they  have  to  live  in  is  frequently  like  this, —  point- 


148         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

ing  to  a  half-cellar,  "  a  door,  no  window,  closed  tight  at 
night  and  packed  fnll  ?  I  have  just  been  visiting  a  boy 
with  tuberculosis  who  lives  in  a  place  like  this.  There  are 
five  of  them,  grandmother,  mother,  and  three  children,  and 
all  sleep  in  one  bed,  and  the  room  is  shared  by  the  family 
goat." 

The  people  in  nearby  towns  were  aided  directly  from 
the  center  at  Taormina,  but  assistance  was  also  extended 
far  and  near  especially  in  the  form  of  milk,  which  was 
sent  to  nearly  every  town  in  Eastern  Sicily.  Distribu- 
tions of  clothing  too  were  made  in  many  places,  often  in- 
accessible and  only  to  be  reached  on  foot  or  on  mule-back. 
Let  us  go  with  the  Eed  Cross  on  one  of  these  journeys: 
A  long  carriage  ride,  followed  by  a  two  hour  climb  up  a 
rough  and  rugged  path  brings  one  to  an  upland  valley 
where  the  town  is  situated.  The  view  of  the  sea  as  one 
passes  over  the  crest  of  the  hill  is  one  of  remarkable 
beauty.  But  the  town  itself  is  sordid  and  forsaken.  It 
has  been  raining  lately,  and  the  streets  are  muddy  and 
swarming  with  pigs.  While  the  distribution  is  being 
made  in  the  town  hall  to  the  most  needy  families,  accord- 
ing to  a  list  prepared  by  the  Mayor,  one  young  fellow 
walks  up  and  says  in  English  to  one  of  the  Red  Cross 

women  in  charge  "  Is  this  Miss ?  "     He  turns  out 

to  be  an  old  protege  of  hers  from  the  east  side  of  ISTew  York. 
He  is  suffering  from  tuberculosis  and  has  returned  to 
Italy  with  his  mother,  to  be  near  the  father,  who  has  just 
returned  to  his  old  home  after  forty  months  of  service  in 
the  Italian  Army.-  The  American  Red  Cross  workers  are 
invited  to  dine  with  this  Italian-American  family,  which 
they  cannot  do  but  they  agree  to  call  after  the  distribution 
is  over.  Accordingly  they  repair  to  the  house,  which  is  on 
a  dirty,  damp  alley.  But  the  room  to  which  they  are 
taken  on  the  second  floor  is  immaculately  clean.  It  is 
scantily  furnished  with  a  few  chairs  and  a  table,  but  in  the 
corner  stands  a  large  American  victrola.  Here  they  have 
black  bread  and  native  cheese  and  wine  and  nuts,  gener- 


ROME  — NAPLES  149 

OTisly  provided  from  the  meagre  store,  while  Caruso  sings 
"  Aida,"  followed  bv  a  medley  of  American  ragtime,  as 
the  family  sits  proudly  around,  talking  wistfully,  between 
tunes,  of  happy  days  on  the  east  side  of  'New  York. 

PALERMO 

In  one  respect  at  least  the  story  of  the  work  at  Palermo 
is  like  the  story  of  the  American  Red  Cross  in  nearly  every 
part  of  Italy.  Beginning  with  emergency  assistance  in 
the  care  of  refugees,  it  rapidly  grew  and  extended  until 
it  taxed  almost  to  the  breaking  point  the  strength  of  the 
small  and  inadequate  force,  which  was  all  that  Rome  was 
able  to  supply,  each  worker  being  compelled  to  do  the 
work  of  two,  busy  all  day  with  the  inspection  and  super- 
vision of  activities,  and  working  far  into  the  night  writing 
reports,  balancing  books,  and  taking  care  of  the  corres- 
pondence. But  it  had  its  unique  features  determined  by 
local  conditions.  Palermo  is  a  large  seaport  town  and  was 
a  prosperous  one,  as  its  large  business  blocks,  its  beauti- 
ful villas,  its  ambitious  theatre  (one  of  the  best  in  Italy) 
and  its  modern  park  attest.  But  the  harbor  was  prac- 
tically closed  during  the  long  years  of  the  war  by  enemy 
submarines,  and  its  shipping  industries,  the  chief  source 
of  Palermo's  prosperity,  had  been  hard  hit.  Every  ship- 
ping port  has  its  army  of  the  poor  and  its  slums.  It  would 
be  hard  to  find  any  worse  than  those  in  Palermo.  But 
there  was  a  great  deal  of  public  spirit  on  the  part  of  the 
well-to-do,  and  private  organizations  ever  since  the  out- 
break of  the  war  had  been  doing  a  vast  deal  of  work  for 
the  needy  of  the  soldiers'  families,  and  especially  for  the 
children  through  the  establishment  and  operation  of  asili; 
but  with  ever  decreasing  resources  and  ever  increasing  de- 
mands, they  were  unable  to  meet  the  situation.  Since  it 
was  a  fundamental  principle  governing  the  Italian  Com- 
mission of  the  Red  Cross  to  cooperate  freely  with  the 
Italians  in  carrying  out  its  purposes,  obviously  the  first 
thing  to  do  was  to  get  behind  these  local  organizations 


150         THE  AJVIERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

and  assist  tbem  in  tlieir  work.  This  the  Eed  Cross  did 
in  every  way  possible.  It  also  completely  took  over 
two  of  the  larfijest  of  the  asili  which  thev  had  established. 
It  may  fairly  be  said  that  the  initiative  for  all  of  the 
work  undertaken  by  the  Eed  Cross  during  the  early  months 
in  Palermo  was  due  to  these  local  organizations,  and 
especially  to  the  group  of  patriotic  women  who  had  vol- 
unteered under  the  banner  of  the  AUeanza  Femminile. 

The  first  wholly  Red  Cross  activity  undertaken  in  Pal- 
ermo was  what  came  to  be  known  as  the  "  Massimo  Pood 
Distribution,"  from  the  fact  that  the  distribution  took 
place  in  the  great  Massimo  Theatre.  One  of  the  chief 
difficulties  that  had  been  encountered  in  this  district  was 
that  of  reaching  the  sickly  undernourished  children  of  sol- 
diers whose  mothers  through  ig-norance  were  unwilling  to 
consent  to  their  care  in  institutions.  Por  them  this  dis- 
tribution was  undertaken ;  and  it  assumed  somewhat  the 
aspect  of  a  diet  kitchen,  since  food  was  allotted  according 
to  the  dietary  needs  of  the  children,  whose  cases  had  been 
investigated  by  nurses  and  social  workers,  with  the  active 
and  appreciative  cooperation  of  the  AUeanza  Femminile. 
The  work  steadily  grew  until  twelve  hundred  children 
were  being  provided  for,  with  most  satisfactory  results. 

A  day  nursery  was  opened  for  delicate  babies  from 
eighteen  months  to  five  years  of  age,  but  the  need  of  con- 
stant treatment  was  so  apparent  that  this  was  transformed 
into  a  sort  of  convalescent  home  where  seventy  little 
patients  were  received  and  cared  for  day  and  night,  sixty 
others  coming  in  for  the  day.  It  was  situated  on  the  sea 
front  in  an  attractive  building  with  a  large  sunny  court, 
and  the  children  were  under  the  constant  care  of  an  Italian 
doctor  who  was  a  child  specialist. 

The  Red  Cross  also  took  over  a  pavilion  in  a  hospital 
by  the  sea,  not  far  from  Palermo,  with  thirty-two  beds, 
which  were  filled  with  children  selected  from  the  various 
groups  under  the  care  of  the  Red  Cross. 

In  general  it  was  only  the  very  young  children  who 


ROME  — NAPLES  151 

came  under  the  special  care  of  the  American  Red  Cross, 
but  the  conditions  at  Palermo  were  such  as  clearly  to  in- 
dicate the  desirability  of  establishing  a  school  for  older 
bovs.  The  fact  is  that  mothers  here  have  not  much  control 
of  the  boys,  whose  discipline  is  regarded  as  the  function 
of  the  father;  consequently  when  the  war  came,  many 
mothers  found  themselves  helpless  to  manage  the  grow- 
ing youths,  who  would  come  home  late  at  night  and  were 
falling  imder  bad  influences.  Many  appeals  came  in  from 
distracted  mothers,  and  from  fathers  on  leave  from  the 
front,  and  the  American  Eed  Cross,  yielding  to  the  de- 
mand, established  a  school  which  kept  three  hundred  of 
these  boys,  between  the  ages  of  seven  and  fourteen,  off 
the  streets.  The  Due  d'Orleans,  claimant  to  the  throne 
of  France,  and  a  member  of  the  House  of  Bourbon  that 
ruled  over  the  "  Two  Sicilies  "  until  its  overthrow  by  Gari- 
baldi and  his  famous  "  Thousand,"  still  owns  a  beautiful 
estate  in  Palermo  and  he  gave  the  Red  Cross  permission 
to  establish  this  school  in  his  large  unused  stables.  Xow 
royal  stables  are  generally  more  commodious  than  a 
plain  man's  villa,  and  these  were  admirably  adapted  to 
their  new  use.  Permission  was  also  given  for  the  use  of 
the  adjacent  garden  as  a  playground  for  certain  hours  of 
the  day.  A  mobilized  priest  of  the  Salesian  Brotherhood 
was  transferred  from  the  military  to  have  charge  of  these 
sons  of  soldiers.  His  whole  heart  was  wrapped  up  in  their 
welfare,  and  his  zeal  and  efficiency  made  the  work  a  suc- 
cess from  the  start.  On  Saturdays  and  Sundays  during 
the  bathing  season  the  boys  from  the  Villa  d'Orleans  were 
taken  in  camion  loads  for  a  seaside  outing  at  Mondello, 
using  the  American  Red  Cross  building  which  on  other 
days  served  as  an  asilo  for  sixty-five  younger  children. 

Some  idea  of  the  extent  of  the  work  accomplished  by 
the  Red  Cross  in  this  district  may  be  had  from  the  fact 
that  between  August,  1918,  and  February,  1019,  aid  was 
extended  to  ninety-two  towns  in  Western  Sicily,  while 
sixty-three  institutions  in  the  city  of  Palermo  itself  re- 


152         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

ceived  assistance  in  one  form  or  another.  At  the  height 
of  its  activity  the  number  of  people  benefited  by  the  Red 
Cross  from  the  Palermo  center  in  a  single  week  was 
twenty-nine  thousand. 

SARDINIA 

The  picturesque  and  sparsely  inhabited  island  of  Sar- 
dinia is  little  known.  For  some  strange  reason  the  tour- 
ists have  never  discovered  it;  consequently  it  is  still  an 
unspoiled  land  where  the  traveler  is  received  as  a  guest 
instead  of  being  regarded  as  legitimate  prey.  The  scenery 
is  beautiful  and  varied,  sometimes  presenting  views  of  ex- 
ceptional grandeur,  especially  in  the  high  lands  on  the 
eastern  part  of  the  island.  Here  one  may  travel  for  miles 
through  a  wild  and  rugged  country,  over  excellent  roads, 
seeing  no  sign  of  life  save  for  an  occasional  shepherd  with 
his  herd  of  goats.  Flowers  of  all  sorts  abound  and  the  air 
is  often  full  of  fragrance  from  the  herbs  and  shrubs.  The 
women  are  fair,  the  men  tall  and  fine  looking  and,  except 
where  the  scourges  of  malaria  and  tuberculosis  have  left 
their  mark,  good  health  is  the  rule.  All  are  poor,  but 
their  poverty  is  never  allowed  to  stand  in  the  way  of 
their  hospitality,  for  they  are  generous  and  hospitable  al- 
most to  excess.  They  are  grave  and  dignified  in  their 
bearing,  which  is  in  marked  contrast  to  the  mercurial 
temperament  of  the  Italians  of  the  mainland.  In  the 
more  inaccessible  towns  they  still  quite  generally  wear  the 
picturesque  native  costume.  Each  town  has  its  distinc- 
tive pattern  and  within  that  town  all  follow  the  same 
fashion.  And  the  boys  dress  like  the  men,  the  girls  like 
the  women.  The  costumes  of  the  women  are  very  rich 
and  brilliant  and,  in  the  case  of  the  well-to-do,  elaborately 
embroidered,  and  adorned  with  much  gold  jewelry,  the 
costumes  and  the  jewelry  alike  being  generally  family 
heirlooms. 

The  Sards  are  a  proud  and  independent  people  and, 
even  in  the  darkest  days  after  Caporetto,  never  lost  their 


ROME  — NAPLES  153 

confidence  in  victory,  but  showed  the  same  indomitable 
spirit  on  "  the  inner  front  "  that  their  boys  were  showing 
on  the  front  line.  For  there  were  famous  brigades  from 
Sardinia.  One  in  particular  came  to  be  known  as  the 
"  soldiers  of  steel." 

It  has  been  a  great  pleasure  to  work  with  these  people, 
and  probably  in  no  part  of  Italy  has  the  work  of  the  Red 
Cross  been  more  completely  satisfactory.  In  the  general 
spring  distribution  ^  Red  Cross  representatives  in  per- 
son visited  practically  every  town  on  the  island,  and  as 
each  visit  was  the  occasion  of  a  patriotic  demonstration 
in  which  the  entire  town  participated,  the  message  of 
America  reached  everywhere.  There  was  the  same  com- 
prehensiveness in  the  work  that  followed.  Separate  asili 
were  indeed  established  and  a  few  orphanages  were  sup- 
ported, but  help  was  also  extended,  mainly  clothes  and 
white  flour,  to  all  the  asili  on  the  island,  some  sixty  in 
number,  caring  for  eight  thousand  children.  Through  the 
soldiers'  canteens  and  rest  houses  at  Terranova  and 
Macomer,  all  the  Sard  soldiers  were  reached  as  they  came 
or  went.  Hospitals  were  aided  with  supplies,  and  special 
support  was  given  to  a  hospital  for  the  care  of  tubercular 
soldiers. 

Forty  thousand  children's  outfits  were  distributed 
throughout  Sardinia,  as  a  parting  gift  from  the  Red  Cross, 
to  the  more  needy  soldiers'  children.  The  following  quota- 
tion from  the  narrative  of  a  Red  Cross  ofiicer  who  took 
part  in  this  distribution  will  give  some  idea  of  the  ex- 
periences of  a  worker  in  Sardinia :  "  We  arrived  in  the 
evening  at  the  town  of  l^uoro,  larger  and  moi-e  prosperous 
than  those  we  had  passed  during  the  day  and  were  met, 
as  usual,  by  the  leading  citizens, —  particularly  fine  types. 
On  the  mountains  near  this  place  the  Red  Cross  had  con- 
ducted one  of  its  most  successful  summer  colonies.  A 
number  of  the  children  from  this  colony  came  to  see  us, 
among  them  a  funny  little  youngster  who  appeared  to 
1  See  page  57. 


154         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

be  about  six  years  old,  known  as  the  '  Captain.'  He  had 
been  the  leading  spirit  of  the  summer  colony  and  had 
drilled  the  boys  with  great  regularity  and  was  very  proud 
of  the  title  that  he  had  earned. 

"  The  following  morning  the  distribution  of  garments 
took  place,  but  this  had  to  be  temporarily  interrupted,  for 
the  town  had  organized  a  religious  procession  in  our  honor. 
It  was  a  most  interesting  sight.  The  children  from  the 
Red  Cross  colony  with  large  American  flags  insisted  on 
heading  the  procession,  marching  before  the  priests  and 
the  celebrants  and  the  life-sized  image  of  the  Virgin,  wav- 
ing the  Stars  and  Stripes.  It  made  the  picture  rather  in- 
congruous, but  was  a  pretty  sight. 

"  From  here  we  hurried  on  to  the  town  of  Oliena,  ar- 
riving a  little  after  eleven.  This  town  is  well  off  the 
beaten  track  and  the  people  have  preserved  their  native 
costumes.  The  whole  to^vn  had  been  expecting  us  and 
everyone  was  on  the  streets,  and  we  were  given  a  royal 
welcome.  All  were  very  much  disturbed,  however,  to  dis- 
cover that  we  had  to  leave  at  one  o'clock,  particularly  the 
parish  priest,  who  had  planned  a  religious  procession  for 
the  afternoon  in  our  honor.  When  they  found  that  we 
could  not  delay,  the  priest  insisted  that  he  would  have  the 
procession  anyway,  so  he  proceeded  to  advance  the  clock 
half  an  hour  and  had  the  bell  rung  for  noonday  to  send 
the  people  home  to  their  dinners,  and  then  sent  out  the 
town  crier  (handa)  to  order  the  inhabitants  to  appear  at 
the  church  at  one  o'clock,  dressed  in  their  best,  for  the 
procession  which  was  to  be  given  in  honor  of  America  and 
the  American  Red  Cross.  Meantime  we  repaired  to  a  room 
where  a  luncheon  was  being  prepared,  and  had  much 
difficulty  in  hurrying  the  proceedings,  for  nobody  seemed 
to  have  any  appreciation  of  the  value  of  time  and  the  priest 
did  not  take  seriously  our  determination  to  leave  sharply 
at  one.  We  all  fell  to  and  helped  in  the  preparations,  to 
the  surprise  and  amusement  of  our  hosts.  Finally  some 
bread  and  cheese  was  produced,  and  a  little  later  some 


ROME  — NAPLES  155 

meat,  and  just  as  we  were  about  to  leave,  the  soup  ar- 
rived. It  was  a  very  friendly  and  good-natured  picnic. 
While  we  were  here  the  town  crier  appeared  once  more, 
singing  his  message  to  the  people.  He  blew  a  horn  and 
then  chanted  an  improvised  poem,  of  which  I  caught  the 
comparison  of  America  to  a  '  stella '  which  was  made  to 
rh^Tiie  with  '  nostra  sorella.'  After  his  messaaje  had  been 
delivered  to  the  people  he  came  into  the  luncheon  room 
and  walking  up  to  me  began  to  chant  another  improvised 
poem.  He  was  a  queer  wizened  little  old  man,  very 
shabby,  with  a  short  shaggy  beard,  half  dnink  and  half  in- 
spired. He  would  chant  in  a  monotone  one  line  and  then 
hesitate  a  moment  and  look  into  the  distance,  as  if  trying  to 
catch  his  rhyme,  and  follow  it  up  by  chanting  another,  and 
so  he  continued  singing  the  praises  of  America  and  her 
part  in  the  war  and  of  the  Red  Cross  and  its  aid  to  the 
town  of  Oliena.  I  could  easily  imagine  that  we  were 
back  several  thousand  years  listening  to  an  old  wandering 
minstrel.  Our  bard  kept  up  his  singing  until  stopped  by 
the  Mayor.  Evidently  he  could  have  run  on  indefinitely. 
By  this  time  the  procession  was  ready  and  we  all  sallied 
forth  to  see  it.  It  was  indeed  a  very  beautiful  and 
impressive  sight,  the  priests  and  the  people  as  they 
marched,  accompanying  the  life-size  image  of  their  patron 
saint,  sang  a  sort  of  dirge-like  chant  and  seemed  them- 
selves to  be  very  much  affected  by  the  religious  spirit  ap- 
propriate to  the  performance,  and  indifferent  to  the  special 

occasion 

"  At  every  one  of  the  places  visited  we  had  a  splendid 
reception.  The  whole  Island  of  Sardinia  is  full  of  en- 
thusiasm for  America  and  the  Red  Cross.  There  has 
been  great  success  in  each  community  in  picking  the  right 
persons  to  entrust  with  the  carrying  out  of  the  Red  Cross 
plans.  The  people  have  a  fine  sense  of  honor  and  are 
uniformly  courteous  and  friendly.  I  did  not  see  a  single 
beggar  during  the  entire  trip.  The  people  are  very  poor 
and  live  in  houses  built  of  stone,  with  mud  plaster,  mostly 


156         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

one  story,  occasionally  two,  and  in  very  rare  instances, 
three.  The  families  crowd  into  a  room,  damp  and  cold, 
and  generally  without  a  window,  though  sometimes  pro- 
vided with  a  small  one  that  is  always  kept  closed.  In 
spite  of  this  impossible  housing  the  people  looked  surpris- 
ingly clean  and  healthy." 

There  is  scarcely  a  hamlet  in  Sardinia  where  America 
is  not  known  and  loved  because  of  the  efforts  of  the  Ameri- 
can Red  Cross.  It  was  possible  to  do  this  widely  extended 
work  with  a  very  modest  force  and  at  small  expense,  once 
the  material  was  provided,  because  of  the  especially  fine 
cooperation  of  the  people  who  not  only  supplied,  free  of 
charge,  railroad  transportation,  as  was  done  throughout 
Italy,  but  also  most  of  the  warehouses,  and  the  labor  neces- 
sary for  the  handling  of  supplies,  and  at  the  same  time 
organized  committees  within  the  several  communities  for 
the  management  of  the  various  activities. 


CHAPTER  IX 

Work  with  American  Troops  in  Italy  —  The  Action  at  the 
Tagliamento  —  A  Chaplain's  Letter  —  Delivery  of  Allotment 
Cheques  —  The  Home  Service  Department 

The  preceding  chapters  have  dealt  wholly  with  the  work 
of  the  American  Red  Cross  with  and  for  our  Italian  allies. 
The  work  with  the  American  troops  may  seem  small  by 
comparison.  Let  it  not  be  supposed  that  this  is  be- 
cause the  Italian  Commission  did  not  thoroughly  real- 
ize that  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  contributed  the  Red 
Cross  funds  the  American  soldier  came  first,  and  that 
as  he  was  first  in  their  affections  so  he  was  first  in  his 
claim  upon  Red  Cross  relief.  The  simple  explanation  is 
that  the  maximum  number  of  American  troops  in  Italy, 
all  told,  including  twelve  hundred  ambulance  men,  was  in 
round  numbers  only  six  thousand.  These  American 
forces  from  the  time  of  their  arrival  to  the  day  of  their 
departure  were  followed  by  the  American  Red  Cross,  and 
everything  possible  was  done  for  their  comfort  and  relief, 
everything  that  could  give  tangible  expression  of  the  devo- 
tion of  the  American  people  to  their  soldiers  in  the  field. 

Moreover,  although  there  were  only  a  few  Americans 
in  service  in  Italy  it  was  known  that  pressure  had  been 
brought  to  bear  from  various  sources  to  induce  the  send- 
ing of  large  American  reinforcements.  There  was  always 
the  expectation  that  at  any  time,  without  warning,  this 
might  be  done,  and  the  number  of  Americans  in  Italy  be 
enormously  increased.  Accordingly  the  American  Red 
Cross  was  always  prepared  for  this  emergency.  Arrange- 
ments had  been  made  for  the  taking  over  and  equipping 

on  a  moment's  notice  of  hospitals  that  could  be  used  for 

157 


158         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

the  American  troops;  supplies  were  kept  in  readiness  at 
strategic  points  for  immediate  delivery,  including  medical 
and  surgical  material  necessary  for  the  equipment  of  sev- 
eral large  hospital  units  as  well  as  advance  field  stations; 
and  plans  were  made  for  the  rapid  concentration  of  Amer- 
ican Eed  Cross  forces  in  Italy  upon  that  service.  But  the 
looked  for  American  reinforcements  were  never  sent,  and, 
as  the  event  proved,  they  were  not  needed. 

The  Red  Cross  did,  however,  provide  several  small  hos- 
pitals for  Americans.  One  of  fifty  beds  was  established 
on  the  outskirts  of  Genoa,  primarily  for  the  use  of  the 
naval  forces,  at  the  request  of  Admiral  Sims.  Three 
weeks  after  the  request  had  been  received  the  hospital  was 
completely  equipped  and  in  running  order,  installed  in  a 
modern  villa,  requisitioned  by  the  Italian  government  for 
the  purpose,  situated  in  a  fine  park  on  the  hillside  over- 
looking the  bay.  It  was  at  first  maintained  by  the  Red 
Cross,  with  a  physician  of  the  United  States  l^avy  in 
medical  charge,  but  in  the  middle  of  September  it  was 
transferred  outright  to  the  navy. 

A  small  but  perfectly  equipped  hospital  was  maintained 
in  Milan  to  care  for  all  American  war  workers  stationed 
in  that  city.  This  hospital  also  served  as  the  training  and 
distributing  center  for  all  Red  Cross  nurses  coming  to 
Italy. 

The  Permanent  Commission  had  been  but  a  short  time 
in  Rome  when  it  realized  the  necessity  of  having  a  phy- 
sician to  care  for  the  health  of  its  personnel.  At  first  an 
Italian  physician,  who  had  previously  practised  in  ISTew 
York,  was  detailed  for  this  service,  but  in  the  spring  of 
1918  his  place  was  taken  by  an  American  physician  who 
had  been  practising  his  profession  for  some  years  in  Flor- 
ence and  had  volunteered  his  services  to  the  American  Red 
Cross  for  the  duration  of  the  war.^  It  soon  became  ap- 
parent that  it  was  necessary  to  make  special  provision  for 

1  During  his  year  of  service  he  saw  nearly  fifteen  hundred  patients, 
and  reported  over  five  thousand  visits  or  consultations. 


AMERICAN  TROOPS  IN  ITALY  159 

the  more  serious  cases  which  could  not  be  satisfactorily 
treated  in  the  hotels  and  boarding  houses  where  proper  food 
and  nursing  could  not  be  obtained.  At  first  an  arrange- 
ment was  made  with  the  "  Little  Sisters  of  Mary  "  for  the 
care  of  a  limited  number  of  cases  in  their  "  Nursing 
Home."  With  the  ever  increasing  size  of  the  Red  Cross 
organization  this  proved  inadequate  and  accordingly  a 
small  Red  Cross  hospital  was  established  in  Rome,  in 
quarters  that  had  formerly  been  used  as  a  private  sani- 
tarium, beautifully  situated,  overlooking  the  Borghese 
Gardens.  This  hospital  was  placed  at  the  disposal  of  all 
American  workers  in  Italy  stationed  at  Rome,  including 
the  personnel  of  the  American  Red  Cross,  the  members  of 
the  United  States  Army,  United  States  N'avy,  the  Y.  W. 
C.  A.,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  the 
American  Embassy.-^ 

The  American  Hospital  at  Padua  is  an  illustration  of 
the  preparedness  of  the  American  Red  Cross  to  meet  any 
emergency  demands.  When  the  Spanish  fever  was  at  its 
height  in  the  fall  of  1918,  and  many  of  our  soldiers  were 
stricken,  the  existing  army  hospital  facilities  proved  in- 
adequate, and  the  Red  Cross  was  called  upon.  On  a  Sat- 
urday the  request  came.  On  the  following  Monday  the 
hospital  was  open,  with  one  ward  in  full  swing.  It  was 
established  in  one  of  the  modern  buildings  of  Padua's  fam- 
ous university,  and  was  primarily  for  the  use  of  the  men 
of  the  American  Aviation  Corps,  stationed  nearby.  This 
hospital  was  rapidly  enlarged  until  it  was  able  to  care  for 
one  hundred  patients,  and  was,  to  quote  the  Chief  of 
Staff  of  the  American  Military  Mission,  "  a  God-sent  gift 
to  the  scattered  troops  in  this  part  of  Italy,  and  so  admir- 
ably conducted  as  to  win  praise  both  from  the  sick  who 
patronized  it  and  from  the  well  who  visited  it." 

1  During  its  eight  montlis  of  operation  two  hundred  patients  were 
received,  distributed  as  follows:  American  Red  Cross,  80;  Y.  M. 
C.  A.,  17;  American  Army,  53;  American  Navy,  30;  American 
Embassy,  9;  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Information,  4;  Knights  of  Columbua, 
2;  English  Medical  Service,  3;  Scattering,  2. 


160         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

The  American  Red  Cross  also  undertook,  for  the  use  of 
the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  in  Europe,  the  con- 
struction of  an  autochir,  or  surgical  army  ambulance, 
similar  to  those  in  use  in  the  Italian  Army.  This  was  a 
completely  equipped  surgical  hospital  mounted  on  twenty 
camions,  with  a  capacity  of  forty-eight  beds.  The  sudden 
ending  of  the  war  found  it  still  uncompleted,  so  it  was 
never  available  for  its  intended  use.  When  last  heard 
from  it  was  on  its  way  to  Rumania. 

The  first  representatives  of  America's  fighting  forces 
on  Italy's  soil  were  the  Army  and  Navy  Aviators  who 
had  been  sent  for  training  to  Italian  camps.  Over  one 
hundred  were  in  camp  at  Foggia  when  the  Italian  Com- 
mission arrived  in  Italy.  The  American  Red  Cross  gave 
a  Christmas  dinner  to  as  many  of  these  as  were  allowed 
to  come  to  Rome,  but  when  it  sought  to  supply  their  needs 
at  the  camp  there  seemed  little  for  it  to  do.  They  made 
modest  requests  for  reading  matter  and  better  mail  service. 
Of  course  books  and  magazines  were  immediately  supplied, 
and  an  effort  was  made  to  accelerate  the  mail  service. 
Later  a  club  was  started  for  them.  Food  supplies  were 
given  from  time  to  time,  and  when  the  epidemic  came  an 
emergency  hospital  was  established  with  American  nurses 
in  charge.  The  Americans  in  training  at  the  hydro-avia- 
tion camps  at  Bolsena  and  Porto  Corsini  were  similarly 
cared  for. 

When  the  American  Army  arabulance  unit  from  Allen- 
town  arrived  in  Italy,  twelve  hundred  strong,  it  was  given 
an  impressive  welcome  by  the  Italians.  Within  an  hour 
of  its  arrival  the  walls  were  covered  with  placards  read- 
ing :  "  Citizens,  soldiers  from  America  are  today  on  Italian 
soil.  Acclaim  our  brothers  from  the  land  of  Columbus !  " 
ISTaturally  the  Red  Cross  was  on  hand  when  they  arrived, 
helping  them  first  to  disembark  and  to  assemble  their  cars, 
supplying  every  need  from  spark  plugs  up,  and  then  look- 
ing out  for  the  comfort  and  health  of  the  boys.  It  fol- 
lowed them  as  they  moved  on  towards  the  front,  and  pro- 


AMERICAN  TROOPS  IN  ITALY  161 

vided  them  with  an  emergency  hospital  at  Mantua  during 
the  influenza  epidemic.  And  it  goes  without  saying  that 
the  ofiicers  in  charge  of  American  Base  Hospital  [N^o.  331 
serving  the  American  troops,  and  of  the  New  Orleans  Unit 
attached  to  Base  Hospital  ISTo.  102  at  Vicenza,  had  only 
to  make  known  a  want  to  have  it  immediately  met.  Large 
quantities  of  medical  and  surgical  supplies,  drugs,  etc., 
reached  our  soldiers  in  this  way. 

Detached  groups  passing  through  Italy  from  time  to 
time,  sailors  on  shore  duty,  engineers,  military  mail  clerks, 
were  aided  in  every  possible  way.  The  Bed  Cross  extended 
comfort  and  relief  to  all,  from  the  American  Military 
Mission  under  General  Treat,  down  to  the  scattered  army 
mail  clerks  who  made  use  of  the  Bed  Cross  canteens  and 
rest  houses  at  Turin  and  Milan. 

In  the  last  days  of  July  the  first  American  soldiers 
reached  Italy, —  the  332d  Ohio  Begiment.  They  were 
given  a  hearty  reception  at  the  Turin  Station,  which  was 
gay  with  the  flags  of  the  allied  nations.  An  Italian  band 
played  the  Star  Spangled  Banner  and  a  detachment 
of  Italian  troops  presented  arms  on  the  arrival  of  each 
train.  The  first  class  waiting  room  had  been  attractively 
fitted  up  for  the  entertainment  of  the  officers,  who  were  re- 
ceived by  a  Committee  of  Italian  women.  And  the  entire 
personnel  of  the  Bed  Cross  of  Turin  served  the  soldiers 
at  tables  on  the  station  platform  with  hot  coffee,  sand- 
wiches, chocolate,  cigarettes,  and  matches.  When  they  de- 
trained at  Villa  Franca  the  whole  Bed  Cross  personnel 
from  Vicenza,  and  as  many  Bed  Cross  ambulance  men 
as  could  be  spared,  were  on  hand  to  give  them  a  welcome, 
serving  coffee,  lemonade,  chocolate,  and  doughnuts. 
There  wasn't  a  chance  for  a  man  to  get  homesick  or  hungry. 
They  all  had  their  army  rations  in  plenty,  but  they  took 
pleasure  none  the  less  in  filing  past  the  Bed  Cross  stands, 
gayly  decorated  with  flowers,  and  their  cups  and  hands 
were  well  filled  before  they  got  past  the  American  women 
in  Bed  Cross  uniforms  who  were  there  to  serve  them. 


162         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

There  were  Bersaglieri  troops  always  on  hand  as  a  guard 
of  honor,  and  a  Bersaglieri  band  to  play  on  the  arrival  of 
the  trains.  Italians  of  all  ranks  vied  with  the  Ked  Cross 
workers  in  the  cordiality  of  the  reception.  An  emergency 
hospital  was  ready  to  receive  the  few  who  needed  medical 
attention,  and  here  fourteen  were  cared  for  until  they  were 
able  to  rejoin  their  company. 

The  historical  importance  of  the  occasion  of  the  arrival 
of  American  troops  to  take  their  places  at  the  Italian  front 
was  recognized  by  every  one.  General  Diaz  immediately 
announced  their  arrival  in  an  order  of  the  day  to  his 
army.  It  was  a  small  force,  but  enough  to  make  a  fine 
showing  as  they  passed  in  review  before  the  King  of 
Italy. 

The  American  Eed  Cross  ran  a  rest  house  for  the  sol- 
diers at  Villa  Franca.  There  were  six  rooms  attractively 
furnished,  and  an  old  garden,  and  here  our  soldiers  re- 
ceived refreshments  and  made  themselves  at  home  after 
their  long,  hot,  and  dusty  tramps.  As  a  group  of  these 
soldiers  came  in  one  day  singing  with  much  gusto  "  Hail ! 

Hail !  the  gang's  all  here.  What  the  "  etc.,  an  old 

native  who  stood  admiringly  by  was  heard  to  remark: 
"  Here  come  the  dear  boys  singing  their  national  anthem." 

When  the  regiment  was  finally  put  under  canvas  at 
Valeggio  the  Red  Cross  followed  them,  setting  up  two  de- 
mountable houses  for  their  use  where  refreshments  were 
served  and  entertainments  given.  Chocolate,  cigarettes, 
hot  coffee,  and  crackers  were  distributed  free  to  the  men 
on  the  march  and  in  the  trenches,  and  were  sold  to  the  men 
in  the  rest  camps,  but  at  a  nominal  price.  This  method 
was  adopted  at  the  request  of  the  officers  as  it  was  sup- 
posed to  make  for  a  fairer  distribution.  Packages  of 
crackers  distributed  in  this  way,  ran  into  the  tens  of  thou- 
sands, and  chocolate  literally  was  given  out  by  the  ton. 

When  the  American  soldiers  were  sent  to  man  the 
trenches  at  Varago  the  Red  Cross  went  with  them ;  when 
they  were  withdrawn  to  quarters  in  Treviso  it  provided 


3 


'o 

1/3 


o 


73 

p 

6 


AMERICAN  TROOPS  IN  ITALY  163 

them  with  a  clubhouse  where  games  and  reading  matter 
were  supplied  and  refreshments  served.  But  our  troops 
were  hardly  settled  at  Treviso  when  the  big  October  offen- 
sive began  on  the  Italian  front.  A  few  days  later  the 
Americans  were  ordered  to  go  forward.  But  the  enemy 
was  already  in  full  retreat  and  it  took  forced  marches  day 
and  night  before  they  were  overtaken  near  the  Taglia- 
mento  where  the  final  skirmish  occurred.  The  heavy 
army  lorries  had  difficulty  in  crossing  the  light  pontoon 
bridges  which  had  been  hurriedly  thrown  across  the  rivers 
and  were  unable  to  keep  up  with  our  troops.  So  for  five 
days  the  men  lived  on  "  iron  rations  "  (hard  tack  and 
tinned  beef).  Fortunately  the  lighter  Bed  Cross  camion 
and  ambulance  which  went  forward  with  the  troops  laden 
with  supplies  had  been  able  to  make  the  crossings.  And 
every  day  the  little  camion  plied  back  and  forth  over  the 
tangled,  shell-torn  roads,  congested  with  the  heavy  traffic 
of  war,  bringing  back  from  the  Red  Cross  base  a  load  of 
good  things;  and  every  day  each  man  received  a  big  cake 
of  chocolate  and  a  box  of  biscuits,  and  cigarettes  and 
matches.  Some  days  soup  was  added.  At  times  the  Red 
Cross  cars  were  used  to  assist  in  hauling  army  supplies. 
The  supplemental  food  and  the  cigarettes  were,  as  the  sol- 
diers called  them,  "  life  savers."  "  Smokes "  at  such 
times  are  worth  their  weight  in  gold  and  chocolate  never 
tasted  so  good.  The  commanding  officer  of  the  American 
troops  one  day,  when  the  men  were  well  over  the  Piave, 
putting  his  hand  on  the  shoulders  of  the  Red  Cross  rep- 
resentative, said  with  feeling :  "'  All  the  time  we  have  been 
in  Italy  the  Red  Cross  has  been  invaluable  to  us.  All  the 
time  we  have  appreciated  it.  But  during  this  advance  it 
has  been  just  simply  a  Godsend."  After  that  the  hard- 
ships, the  cold,  and  the  sleepless  nights  meant  nothing  to 
the  Red  Cross  men  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  be  en- 
gaged in  this  service  and  the  difficulties  of  connecting  with 
the  base  of  supplies  but  added  zest  to  their  labors. 

A  final  distribution  was  made  just  before  the  men  went 


164         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

into  action  near  the  Tagliamento.  This  was  the  first  and 
only  battle  in  which  the  Americans  were  engaged  on  the 
Italian  front,  and  our  losses  were :  one  killed,  and  seven 
wounded.  The  wounded  were  reached  on  the  field  by  the 
Red  Cross  men,  one  of  whom  had  been  with  our  soldiers 
ever  since  their  arrival  in  Italy,  helping  to  establish  com- 
munication between  the  men  and  their  families,  straighten- 
ing out  tangles  legal  and  domestic.  But  he  had  also  made 
himself  generally  useful  as  a  purveyor  of  news,  a  general 
information  bureau,  a  father  confessor,  and  an  errand  boy, 
and  had  won  the  confidence  and  affection  of  the  men.  As 
he  leaned  over  to  help  one  of  the  wounded  men  that  day 
the  youth  looked  up  with  a  smile  of  satisfaction. —  One 
load  at  least  had  been  lifted  from  his  mind. —  "  Say,  old 
scout,"  he  said,  "  you'll  be  sure  to  have  the  Red  Cross  get 
word  to  my  mother  that  —  it  isn't  anything  —  you'll  do 
that  without  fail,  won't  you  ?  You  know  —  you  know  " — 
his  voice  broke  just  a  bit,  not  on  account  of  his  own  suffer- 
ing, but  at  the  thought  of  his  mother's  suspense  — "  you 
know,  old  scout,  I  don't  want  —  her  —  to  worry !  " 
"  Don't  you  fret,  my  son,"  was  the  reply,  "  your  message 
will  get  to  your  mother  as  fast  as  wire  and  cable  will  take 
it  in  war  time."     And  the  Red  Cross  saw  that  it  did. 

Some  two  weeks  later  a  Red  Cross  man  happened  across 
a  battalion  of  Americans  headed  for  Montenegro.  Drop- 
ping for  the  time  being  the  business  in  hand,  he  put  him- 
self and  his  supplies  at  the  service  of  our  soldiers,  took  the 
sick  to  the  hospital,  and  arranged  with  the  Presidio  at 
Mestre  for  baths  for  the  whole  thousand  men, —  baths 
with  real  towels,  a  service  much  appreciated,  for  the  men 
had  been  a  month  without  a  change  of  clothes  and  had  been 
on  long  hikes  daily,  sleeping  in  pup-tents,  with  an  uncer- 
tain supply  of  food,  and  they  had  just  come  in  on  camions 
from  Udine,  a  hard  sixteen-hour  ride.  When  this  bat- 
talion embarked  from  Venice  the  Red  Cross  went  with  it, 
taking  an  ambulance,  which  was  to  prove  of  much  value 
because  of  its  lightness  on  the  poor  Montenegrin  roads,  and 


AMERICAN  TROOPS  IN  ITALY  165 

adding  to  the  store  of  food  generous  supplies  from  the 
Venice  warehouse,  including  five  barrels  of  lard,  about  a 
ton  of  clear-belly  bacon,  and  quantities  of  condensed  milk, 
cheese,  soup,  coffee,  sugar,  etc.,  and  socks  and  pajamas. 
On  two  other  occasions  supplies  were  sent  to  these  men  to 
supplement  the  meagi'e  Italian  rations  on  which  they  were 
living. 

The  American  destroyers  in  Italian  waters  were  given 
large  quantities  of  food,  and  also  soap,  which  was  as  much 
appreciated  as  the  food,  for  in  some  cases  the  men  had 
been  for  weeks  without  this  necessary  article,  and  had  had 
to  resort  to  a  lye  solution  for  cleanliness. 

At  all  times  sweaters,  socks  and  pajamas  were  given  to 
the  men  as  needed.  On  Christmas  every  American  sol- 
dier in  Italy,  and  as  many  men  of  the  Navy  as  could  be 
reached,  received  a  present  from  the  Red  Cross.  When 
Italy  was  made  a  zone  of  leave  for  our  men  in  France, 
and  a  number  of  our  M.  P.'s  were  sent  to  Eome  to  look 
after  them,  the  Red  Cross  provided  them  with  beds  and 
bedding.  Stranded  soldiers  whose  pay-cheques  had  been 
delayed  were  helped  with  money  advances,  but  (by  army 
orders)  only  on  the  recommendation  of  the  commanding 
officer.  When  finally  our  men  went  into  camp  at  Genoa, 
waiting  for  passage  home,  a  Red  Cross  representative  was 
stationed  with  them  to  administer  in  every  way  to  their 
comfort. 

What  the  Red  Cross  meant  to  our  American  troops  in 
Italy  may  be  read  in  the  following  letter  from  Chaplain 
Kelly  of  the  332d  Ohio: 

"I  have  had  it  in  mind  to  write  you  an  expression  of  my 
appreciation  regarding  the  activities  of  the  American  Red  Cross 
as  it  has  concerned  our  Regiment.  In  order  that  I  may  do  so 
permit  me  to  go  back  and  give  you  a  short  history  from  the 
beginning  of  our  entrance  into  Italy. 

"  We  had  been  in  France  long  enough  to  enjoy  and  appreciate 
the  well  organized  efforts  of  your  people  there,  and  I  must  con- 
fess that  it  was  with  a  little  misgiving  and  mingled  feelings 
that  we  received  our  orders  to  come  to  Italy.     We  knew  that 


166         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

there  were  no  American  troops  ahead  of  us,  and  could  not  help 
but  wonder  what,  if  anything,  would  be  done  for  our  comfort 
in  the  land  that  was  to  be  our  new  home.  But  these  misgivings 
were  soon  to  be  destroyed.  We  came  from  France,  over  the 
Alps,  into  Italy  by  the  usual  means  of  soldier  transportation 
over  here  namely,  the  box  car  route,  and  you  can  scarcely 
realize  the  joy  that  was  to  be  ours  that  day. 

"  It  does  not  take  much  of  an  imagination  to  guess  a  fellow's 
feelings  as  he  goes  into  a  new  land,  to  behold  new  customs,  to 
mingle  with  a  new  people,  and  to  hear  spoken  a  new  tongue. 
Then,  thinking  of  all  these  things,  we  pull  into  Turin.  Bands 
of  music,  Italian  guards  of  honour,  cheering  populace,  build- 
ings and  depot  gaily  decorated,  all  this,  but  best  of  all  right  in 
the  very  center  of  activities  a  huge  sign  AMERICAN  RED 
CROSS.  Did  the  painter  paint  this  sign  in  any  unusual  way, 
or  was  it  just  imagination,  for  it  seemed  to  us  that  it  was  a  halo 
of  glory.  And  then  those  eats,  served  by  those  American  Red 
Cross  men  and  women.  What  was  true  of  Turin,  was  true  of 
Milan,  Brescia,  Verona  and  all  along  the  trip.  Some  of  our 
train  sections  arrived  at  these  various  points  by  day  and  some 
by  night,  but  it  mattered  not,  the  Red  Cross  was  perpetual 
motion,  the  coffee  was  always  hot,  and  eats  a  plenty  on  hand. 

"  Our  destination  was  Villa  Franca,  and  the  Red  Cross  hos- 
pitality reigned  supreme.  The  section  on  which  the  writer  was 
arrived  at  this  point  in  the  night,  but  no  one  was  asleep  on  the 
job.  We  shall  remember  that  night  because,  besides  many  other 
things,  there  were  real  doughnuts.  Many  things  in  war  are 
camouilaged.  They  have  to  be.  But  there  was  no  camouflage 
about  these  doughnuts.  Not  only  were  there  doughnuts  but 
plenty  of  them.  Imagine  a  soldier  traveling  from  the  heart  of 
France,  on  a  '  soldiers'  Pullman,'  feeding  on  corned  beef  and 
hardtack,  and  the  other  usual  traveling  rations,  and  then  being 
told  to  help  himself  to  doughnuts.  I  don't  know  how  many 
doughnuts  can  be  made  for  a  dollar  but  if  those  dollar  investors 
back  in  the  States  could  have  secreted  themselves  around  the 
Villa  Franca  depot  and  could  have  seen  the  grinning  and  happy 
faces  of  those  soldier  boys  it  would  have  been  dividend  enough 
for  their  money. 

"  We  found  that  Villa  Franca  was  to  be  our  home  for  a  week 
or  two.  It  is  a  strange  but  beautiful  little  city.  There  is 
nothing  wrong  with  their  hospitality.  We  were  billeted  among 
them.  They  did  their  very  best  for  us.  But  as  I  have  stated 
before  things  were  different.  Strolling  up  the  street  one  day 
shortly  after  our  arrival,  thinking  about  home,  and  wife,  and 
loved  ones,  quietly  humming  to  myself,  '  Where  do  we  go  from 


AMERICAN  TROOPS  IN  ITALY  167 

here,  boys,'  which  was  always  the  question  uppermost  in  our 
minds,  I  noticed  ahead  of  me  floating  in  the  gentle  Italian  breeze 
Old  Glory.  My,  what  a  sight !  You  doubtless  have  had  the 
same  thrill  that  came  over  me  that  summer  day.  I  quickened 
my  pace,  and  as  I  drew  near  wondering  what  kind  of  a  building 
it  could  be  I  saw  the  sign  American  Red  Cross,  Walk  In.  That 
was  all  the  recommend  and  invitation  that  was  necessary.  In 
I  went.  The  tale  is  soon  toldi.  You  had  rented  a  splendid 
building  and  made  it  so  homelike.  There  were  American 
magazines  and  papers,  dotted  around  the  rooms  were  writing 
tables  with  everything  necessary  for  the  boys  to  write  their 
loved  ones,  over  here  in  another  corner  a  gramophone  playing 
American  music  and  songs,  back  in  another  room  real  ice  cold 
lemonade,  with  real  ice.  I  just  don't  know  where  you  got  that 
ice,  neither  do  I  know  where  you  got  a  whole  lot  of  the  comforts 
that  you  have  afforded  us,  but  you  seem  to  get  them  just  the 
same.  And  as  though  that  were  not  enough  you  had  upstairs  a 
room  fully  equipped  for  Officers  for  you  seem  to  have  realized 
that  Officers  get  lonesome  and  homesick  too. 

"  After  a  short  stay  in  Villa  Franca  we  were  moved  out  into 
a  large  camp  near  Vallegio.  We  had  ceased  to  wonder  now 
whether  or  not  the  Red  Cross  would  be  with  us.  We  just  seemed 
to  know  they  would.  We  discovered  that  no  sooner  had  the 
camp  site  been  located  than  the  Red  Cross  man  was  on  the  job. 
By  the  time  our  tents  were  nicely  pitched,  the  first  of  'your 
two  huts  that  were  finally  erected  was  under  construction.  Very 
soon,  we  found  a  well  built,  neat,  and  attractive  home  again. 
I  could  speak  of  various  phases  of  good  accomplished  here. 
There  was  the  invaluable  help  aff"orded  by  the  Home  Service 
Department,  the  reading  and  writing  facilities  provided,  the 
home-like  American  workers.  It  is  hard  to  individualize  and 
specialize  in  such  a  many-sided  proposition  as  yours.  How  well 
I  remember  in  my  hospital  work  during  those  hot  summer  days 
seeing  your  workers  pass  in  and  out  among  the  wards  with 
cold  lemonade,  flowers,  egg  nogg,  papers  and  books.  It  seemed 
as  though  they  just  touched  our  lives  everywhere. 

"  Then  came  the  time  when  we  were  moved  into  the  trenches 
and  got  in  readiness  for  the  drive.  You  moved  with  us,  and  by 
the  time  we  were  fairly  located  you  were  on  the  job  scattering 
sunshine.  I  hardly  know  how  to  speak  of  those  days  or  what 
especial  part  to  mention.  How  well  we  all  remember  when  far 
advanced  north,  the  long  tramping  with  heavy  packs  had  been 
so  hard,  the  bridges  had  been  blown  up  by  the  Austrians,  our 
heavy  trucks,  being  of  the  heavy  Riker  variety,  could  not  cross 
the  temporary  pontoon  bridges  that  had  been  laid  down,  rations 


168         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

were  none  too  plenty  or  good,  but  you  were  there.  Chocolate 
never  seemed  as  good  before,  plenty  of  chocolate  and  soup, —  no 
charges.  It  just  seemed  to  me  that  you  represented  America 
with  her  mother  love  and  liberty  as  never  before  and  you 
rested  and  refreshed.  I  am  sure  you  did  just  what  America 
wanted  you  to  do. 

"  I  could  speak  of  hospital  work.  You  remember  when  tired 
and  exposed  by  heavy  marching  the  dreadful  scourge  of  influenza 
struck  us.  Hundreds  of  our  men  were  sick  and  needed  hospital 
care.  Our  hospitals  were  filled.  Something  had  to  be  done. 
As  though  by  magic  you  stepped  in,  the  Padova  Red  Cross 
Hospital  was  placed  at  our  disposal  and  from  that  time  to  this 
our  men  have  been  carefully  and  generously  nursed  back  to 
health.  I  am  sure  we  shall  never  forget  Captain  Oliver  Kiel, 
M.D.,  the  Commanding  Officer,  and  the  fine  staff  of  that  hos- 
pital. Then  again  I  remember  when  our  field  hospital  was 
filled  and  we  had  many  cases  of  serious  sickness  you  sent  us  a 
complement  of  splendid  nurses  to  help  out  in  the  emergency. 

"  I  remember  a  funeral  scene  of  which  I  should  like  to  speak. 
One  of  our  men  had  died  at  your  hospital  in  Padova.  On  the 
day  of  the  funeral  it  rained,  it  literally  poured  rain.  A  com- 
pany of  our  soldiers  led  by  our  Regimental  Band  paraded  for  the 
funeral.  But  this  is  not  what  I  remember  just  now.  There 
were  three  American  Red  Cross  nurses  marching  in  the  pro- 
cession carrying  flowers  to  place  on  that  soldier's  grave.  I  said 
to  them,  *  You  should  not  do  this,  the  weather  is  too  severe.' 
'  But,  Chaplain,  we  are  taking  the  place  of  the  mother,  sister 
and  sweetheart.'  That's  it.  Colonel,  and  that's  what  you  have 
been  doing  all  these  months.  That  is  the  key  note  of  the  whole 
story  and  of  your  success.  You  have  been  representing  our 
loved  ones  back  home. 

"  Christmas  came,  and  because  the  war  was  over  we  would 
have  liked  to  have  been  home.  But  that  could  not  be.  The 
Army  issue  in  Italy  does  not  make  an  accustomed  Christmas 
dinner.  But  your  delegate  at  Treviso  and  his  splendid  staff  saw 
an  opportunity  to  even  things  for  us  a  little  and  he  generously 
supplemented  that  Christmas  of  ours  till  we  had  a  regular  feed. 
Thanks  again  to  the  Red  Cross. 

"  I  could  go  on  and  on,  but  you  doubtless  have  all  these  reports 
at  your  disposal  from  your  various  departments  and  workers. 
But  in  spite  of  this  I  have  heard  so  many  expressions  of  delight, 
and  have  been  the  recipient  of  so  many  kindnesses  that  it  seems 
to  me  I  would  be  guilty  did  I  not  express  them  if  only  in  part. 

"  Assuring  you  of  my  deepest  appreciation  for  all  you  have 


AMERICAN  TROOPS  IN  ITALY  169 

done  for  us  here  in  Italy  as  well  as  elsewhere,  believe  me  to  be 
a  member  for  life  of  the  American  Red  Cross." 

The  chief  function  of  the  Home  Service  Department  of 
the  Red  Cross  was  to  relieve  the  American  soldier  of  all 
mental  anxieties  such  as  worry  over  unforeseen  domestic 
or  bu<5incss  complications,  over  failure  to  hear  from  home, 
or  over  news  from  home  that  allotment  cheques  were  not 
going  through, —  in  short,  to  dispel  the  fears  so  easily 
aroused  in  the  mind  of  the  soldier  that  his  loved  ones  were 
suffering  because  of  his  inability  to  look  after  their 
needs.  The  Red  Cross  sought  to  act  as  far  as  possible  in 
the  soldier's  stead.  Often  the  worries  started  from  the 
other  end  of  the  line,  from  the  homes.  Families  became 
anxious  because  they  had  lost  track  of  the  soldier  member, 
or  had  perhaps  heard  that  he  was  sick  or  wounded  but 
were  receiving  no  further  information.  In  such  case  the 
Red  Cross  would  locate  the  soldier  and  send  back  reports 
of  his  condition.  And  through  its  representatives  in  the 
hospital  it  sought  to  keep  the  families  informed  about  the 
sick  and  wounded  without  waiting  for  the  request  from 
home. 

From  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  our  troops  in  Italy  the 
Red  Cross  representatives  were  with  them  to  perform  these 
services.  It  was  comparatively  simple  to  do  this  work 
when  one  could  call  upon  the  Red  Cross  organization  in 
America  with  its  twenty-one  thousand  chapters  and 
branches  scattered  all  over  the  land,  and  its  many  times 
twenty-one  thousand  workers.  This  was,  however,  but  a 
small  part  of  the  demand  made  upon  the  Home  Service  De- 
partment in  Italy,  where  an  altogether  unique  condition  was 
created  by  the  fact  that  there  was  a  very  large  number  of 
American  soldiers  of  Italian  parentage  with  our  forces  in 
Europe.  Home  Service  with  them  generally  meant 
reaching  their  families  still  residing  in  Italy,  and  the 
difficulties  presented  were  often  all  but  insuperable. 


170         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

The  very  first  task  tlirow^i  upon  the  Department  was  of 
such  magTiitude  as  to  prove  a  severe  strain  on  the  small 
organization.  In  a  single  day  the  American  Embassy  in 
Rome  received  for  distribution  seventeen  thousand  allot- 
ment cheques.  Nearly  ninety  per  cent  of  the  addresses 
were  inaccurate,  and  the  military  attache  in  despair  ap- 
pealed to  the  Red  Cross,  which  in  a  comparatively  short 
time  succeeded  in  correcting  ten  thousand  of  the  addresses 
and  starting  the  cheques  on  their  way.  Many,  however, 
were  in  such  bad  shape  that  they  had  to  be  referred  back 
to  Washington.  The  work  on  allotment  cases  was  carried 
on  in  close  cooperation  with  the  Italian  Royal  Commis- 
sioner of  Emigration  and  with  the  United  States  Bureau 
of  War  Risk  Insurance,  which  in  October,  1918,  established 
a  branch  in  Rome. 

The  incredible  amount  of  confusion  in  the  names  and 
addresses  of  beneficiaries  in  Italy  was  partly  due  to  the 
ignorance  of  the  soldier  making  the  allotment,  who  would 
fail  to  supply  full  information,  and  partly  to  the  ignor- 
ance of  the  army  agents,  or  to  their  unfamiliarity  with 
Italian,  which  led  to  mistakes  in  copying  addresses  that 
had  been  given  correctly,  or  to  the  omission  of  essential 
details.  Mistakes  in  spelling  the  names  of  places  were 
generally  fairly  easy  to  remedy.  For  example,  Lannicola 
Dellarto  could  be  readily  spotted  as  a  miscopying  of  San 
Nicola  Dell' Alto.     But  if  a  letter  came  addressed  simply 

—  to  take  one  of  many  instances  —  to  the  town  of  Cas- 
tello,  there  was  nothing  to  do  but  refer  back  to  Washing- 
ton, there  being  over  eighty  towns  of  this  name  in  Italy, 

—  as  many  as  nine  in  a  single  province.  Names  of  bene- 
ficiaries caused  even  greater  confusion.  A  soldier  might, 
for  example,  following  the  Italian  usage,  have  innocently 
written  after  his  mother's  name  the  word  "  Vedova,"  mean- 
ing "  widow  " ;  and  the  cheque  would  come  through  ad- 
dressed to  Mrs.  Vedova.  Again,  Italians  when  they  be- 
come American  citizens  generally  translate  their  names, 
in  some  fashion  or  other,  into  English.     These  could  gen- 


AMERICAN  TROOPS  IN  ITALY  111 

erally  be  turned  back  into  Italian  without  mucb  difficulty. 
Thus  Mrs.  James  Capps  could  be  identified  as  Mrs.  Gia- 
como  Capoccetti.  It  required  a  good  deal  of  ingenuity, 
however,  to  get  John  Bigfeet  back  into  Giovanni  Marti- 
nelli,  nicknamed  Grandepiedi,  from  a  recognized  family 
characteristic.  The  most  amusing  case  of  this  sort  was 
that  of  an  American  soldier  who  had  been  brought  over 
to  this  country  by  friends  when  he  was  a  very  small  boy. 
In  his  old  village  home  he  had  been  called  Piccolo  Pietro 
(little  Peter),  his  father  being  known  as  Largo  Pietro. 
He  never  knew  any  other  name.  In  the  course  of  time  he 
became  an  American  citizen  under  the  name  of  Peter 
Pick,  and  as  such  enlisted  in  the  United  States  Army. 
And  when  every  one  was  making  allotments  to  relatives, 
thinking  perhaps  that  this  was  a  necessary  part  of  enlist- 
ment, he  remembered  his  old  father  and  made  his  allot- 
ment to  Largo  Pietro,  the  only  name  he  knew  him  by. 
But  he  had  remembered  the  name  of  his  native  village, 
and  the  Red  Cross  succeeded  in  running  to  earth  Largo 
Pietro  and  making  him  the  sharer  in  Uncle  Sam's  and  his 
son's  generosity. 

The  most  unfortunate  result  from  this  confusion  of 
names  came  from  the  fact  that  thousands  of  cheques  ar- 
rived made  out  in  the  name  of  the  husband  with  only  the 
prefix  "  Mrs."  Now  in  many  communities  in  Italy  there 
seems  to  be  a  great  dearth  of  surnames,  or  poverty  of  the 
imagination.  It  is  not  infrequent  to  find,  even  in  a  small 
village,  as  many  as  fifty  men  of  the  same  name.  It  is 
doubtless  for  this  reason  that  the  women,  especially  of  the 
peasant  class,  retain  their  own  family  name.  For,  while 
there  might  be  a  good  many  Giuseppi  Geradis  in  a 
town,  it  was  not  likely  that  there  would  be  more  than  one 
"  Maria  Pampino  wife  of  Giuseppi  Geradi."  Until  the 
postal  authorities  became  cognizant  of  the  contents  of  the 
envelopes  that  began  to  arrive  from  the  United  States 
Treasury  Department  they  were  likely  to  give  the  cheques 
to  any  one  of  the  same  name  who  called  for  mail,  and 


172         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

just  as  likely  to  cash  the  cheques  for  them.  Consequently 
many  were  receiving  aid  who  had  no  claim  whatever, 
while  many  with  the  best  claims  were  going  with- 
out. In  one  place  two  women  of  the  same  name  had  sons 
in  the  United  States  Army  and  one  was  drawing  the 
cheques  for  both.  In  one  case  the  cousin  was  drawing  the 
cheques  and  the  mother  of  the  soldier  who  was  old  and  in 
need  was  grieving,  not  so  much  because  of  her  need  of  the 
money  as  because  of  her  sorrow  that  her  son  had  remem- 
bered the  young  and  fair  cousin  rather  than  herself. 
When  she  received  a  letter  from  her  boy  in  which  he  stated 
that  he  hoped  she  was  receiving  the  cheques  regularly  her 
joy  in  knowing  that  he  had  thought  of  her  was  so  great 
that  she  forgot  all  about  the  past  cheques  that  were  due  her 
and  apparently  bore  no  grudge  against  the  cousin. 

Generally  where  other  persons  than  the  rightful  bene- 
ficiaries had  cashed  the  cheques  the  money  had  been  spent. 
In  these  cases  the  Red  Cross  tried  by  persuasion  and  by 
threat  to  have  the  money  refunded  in  small  payments  at  a 
time,  and  was  often  successful.  It  never  resorted  to  the 
processes  of  the  law.  If  a  case  seemed  to  call  for  such 
treatment  the  matter  was  referred  to  the  Royal  Emigration 
Commission. 

As  a  result  of  all  this  confusion  allotment  cheques  were 
delayed,  or  failed  to  arrive  altogether,  or,  arriving,  fell 
into  the  vrrong  hands.  This  situation  caused  one  of  the 
most  persistent  and  burdensome  tasks  of  the  Department. 
Families  would  write  that  their  soldier  relative  had  told 
them  that  they  would  receive  a  certain  monthly  allowance 
and  that  it  had  not  come.  Soldiers  would  complain  that 
the  sums  allotted  from  their  pay  with  the  added  govern- 
ment allowance  had  never  been  received  by  their  families, 
which  were  consequently  in  great  distress.  Similar  mes- 
sages kept  coming  from  the  Red  Cross  Headquarters  at 
Washington  or  at  Paris.  It  was  the  task  of  the  Italian 
Commission  to  trace  the  missing  cheques  and,  pending 


AMERICAN  TROOPS  IN  ITALY  173 

their  delivery,  to  take  care  of  the  families  whenever  they 
were  found  to  be  in  destitute  circumstances. 

Whenever  it  was  possible  the  Red  Cross  delegates  in 
the  different  parts  of  Italy  carried  on  the  Home  Service 
work  in  their  vicinity.  But  it  was  necessary  to  add  a 
corps  of  home  visitors  whose  time  was  wholly  given  to 
this  work  which  extended  to  every  corner  of  Italv.  Often 
the  places  to  be  visited  were  many  miles  from  the  railroad, 
not  infrequently  perched  on  the  tops  of  high  mountains 
and  to  be  reached  only  on  foot  or  on  muleback.  Trains 
were  few  and  conditions  of  travel  as  bad  as  could  be. 
The  little  villages  had  no  hotels,  and  sanitation  was  a 
thing  unknown.  Food  of  a  sort  was  generally  obtain- 
able; heating  never.  But  one  should  not  say  never,  for 
one   of  our   home  visitors   writes : 

"  I  have  sweet  visions  of  a  dear  old  Italian  mother 
bent  by  hard  labor  interrupting  my  reading  of  her  sol- 
dier son's  letters  to  say  '  My  lady,  your  hands  and  feet 
are  cold,'  and  bringing  in  her  hands  two  little  earthen 
jars  of  live  coals  with  which  to  warm  my  hands  and  feet, 
and  offering  an  uncooked  egg  in  the  spirit  of  gracious 
hospitality.  She  could  neither  read  nor  write  but  she 
could  feel,  and  she  saw  in  this  Red  Cross  visitor  a  way 
to  reach  her  boy  and  was  full  of  gratitude." 

"  One  old  widowed  mother  of  seventy  years  [I  continue 
to  quote  from  this  visitor's  report],  living  all  alone  in 
one  room  had  not  seen  her  only  child  in  over  six  years. 
When  I  told  her  my  errand  she  swelled  with  pride  and 
replied :  '  Yes,  my  lady,  my  Amedeo  is  fighting  for  the 
great  United  States  somewhere  —  I  do  not  know  where. 
It  is  eight  months  since  I  have  heard  from  him,  and  only 
twice  have  I  received  my  allotment  cheques, —  the  last 
one  five  months  ago.  But,  lady,  no  matter  ("  fa  niente  "), 
I  am  happy  if  I  hear  from  my  boy  and  have  work.  I 
work  in  the  fields  for  1.25  lira  (about  twenty-five  cents) 
a  day,  when  I  can  get  work  at  all.     But  now  in  the 


174         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

mountains  —  the  fingers  freeze.  But  read  me,  my  edu- 
cated lady,  what  my  Amedeo  says  to  me  in  this  letter, 
once  more.  Read  to  me  what  this  card  with  the  little 
Eed  Cross  upon  it  says  about  my  son. —  Write  for  me 
to  his  captain  and  beg  him  to  let  my  boy  come  home  once 
more  to  see  me  before  I  die,  before  he  returns  to  that 
far-off  United  States.  Also,  write  my  Amedeo  and  tell 
him  that  in  a  few  days  I  shall  go  up  on  the  mountains 
to  get  some  wood.  Look,  lady,  at  the  "  polenta "  up 
there '  (and  she  pointed  to  the  few  ears  of  corn  hanging 
from  the  ceiling)  ; — 'look  there'  (and  she  pointed  with 
her  withered  hand  to  the  fireplace) — '  there  I  will  cook 
him  a  nice  dinner,  and  there  in  that  corner  I  will  build 
me  a  bed  and  he  can  have  this  nice  one.  Oh,  write, 
my  lady,  I  do  want  to  hear  from  my  Amedeo.' 

"  Can  you  imagine  how  thankful  this  poor  old  soul 
was  when  I  told  her  not  to  worry;  that  the  Red  Cross 
would  write  her  son  and  be  her  friend.  I  wrote  this  sol- 
dier and  told  him  how  proud  he  should  be  of  such  a  brave, 
courageous  old  mother,  how  she  smiled  as  the  tears  stood 
in  her  eyes,  and  how  she  loved  him.  Poor  mother  !  Only 
a  few  days  ago  we  had  to  write  her  telling  her  that  her 
Amedeo  had  fallen  in  battle.  And  so  again  a  small 
cheque  was  sent  to  this  suffering  old  mother  who  gave 
her  all." 

Endless  were  the  tales  the  Home  Service  visitors  brought 
back  from  their  arduous  journeys,  most  of  them  sad,  a  few 
more  joyous,  but  all  of  them  telling  the  same  story, — 
that  the  heart  of  the  mother  of  Amedeo  may  beat  in  a 
different  language  but  beats  with  the  same  pride  and 
love,  the  same  worries  and  deep  sorrows,  and  the  same 
stout  courage  as  the  hearts  of  the  loving  mothers  of  Amer- 
ica. 

The  work  of  the  Home  Service  Department  has  been 
the  hardest  of  all  of  the  Red  Cross  activities  to  bring  to 
an  end  in  Italy.  It  seemed  as  if  the  termination  of 
hostilities  had  but  increased  the  demand  for  this  kind 


AIMERICAN  TROOPS  IN  ITALY  1T5 

of  service.  More  than  a  year  after  the  signing  of  the 
armistice  the  Red  Cross  was  still  handling  three  or  four 
thousand  cases  a  month. 

On  January  1,  1919,  the  Bureau  of  War  Risk  In- 
surance withheld  all  requests  for  allowances  until  a  claim 
of  dependency  had  been  established.  In  order  to  estab- 
lish this  claim  it  was  necessary  to  fill  out  a  blank  printed 
in  English  sent  from  the  Department  in  Washington  to 
the  claimants  in  Italy.  Since  most  of  these  claimants 
could  scarcely  read  their  own  tongue  it  is  not  surprising 
that  hardly  any  of  these  so-called  "  mail  investigation 
forms  "  had  been  filled  in  and  returned  to  Washington. 
As  a  result,  even  those  who  had  been  regailarly  receiving 
their  allotments  and  allowances  were  suddenly  cut  off, 
and  were  much  perplexed  to  know  the  reason  why,  but 
felt  sure  that  they  were  in  some  way  being  defrauded. 
Again  many  soldiers  who  had  gone  through  the  war  with 
a  serene  mind,  feeling  that  their  dependents  in  Italy  were 
being  well  cared  for  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
they  had  made  for  allotment,  found,  upon  reaching  home 
after  demobilization,  letters  awaiting  them  telling  of  great 
distress,  for  the  cheques  had  not  come  through.  In  gen- 
eral the  Italian-Americans  who  were  serving  with  our 
forces  in  France  asked  to  be  demobilized  there  in  order 
that  they  might  visit  their  native  village  in  Italy  to  see 
their  wives  and  children  or  their  aged  parents,  and  in 
many  hundreds  of  cases  the  request  was  granted.  They 
came  back  with  a  feeling  of  satisfaction  in  having  been 
able  to  provide  so  generously  for  their  dependents,  proud 
of  the  country  of  their  adoption  that  had  made  this  possi- 
ble, and  rather  anxious  to  parade  in  the  uniform  of  their 
new  country.  Most  of  them,  however,  were  doomed  to 
the  disppointment  and  disillusionment  so  feelingly  voiced 
in  the  following  letter  from  one  of  them: 

"  Carissima  Red  Cross 

"  I  have  come  all  way  from  France  for  see  ma  wife  and  child 
and  veesit  ma  home  and  I  have  thought  evrahody  would  be  glad 


1T6         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

for  see  me  and  I  would  tell  much  bout  the  war  and  ma  new 
country  who  I  am  giving  two  years  for  defend.  My  country  as 
was  promise  send  my  wife  and  child  $15  from  my  monthly  paid- 
ment  and  put  to  it  nother  $15.  But  you  dint  do  neither. 
Thirty  dollars  American  money  make  so  many  lires  as  we  dont 
much  see  in  Silva  Marina  and  I  am  thinking  as  I  would  find  my 
family  all  fine.  Instead  Cara  Signora  what  you  theenk  I  find  — 
my  wife  seek  in  bed  and  ma  girl  seek  too  and  my  friends  not 
sooch  good  friends  because  they  are  thinking  I  am  gone  ofE  and 
leave  ma  wife  and  child  for  them  to  care  for  me. 

"  And  now  ma  dear  friend  American  Red  Cross  wont  you 
please  give  me  an  information  since  the  great  American  Gov- 
ernment is  not  ma  friend  and  I  know  how  evrabody  is  to  busy 
for  bother  weetha  me,  wont  you  please  carissima  Signora  help 
me  get  this  money.  I  am  earn  this  money  honestly  when  I  am 
fight  in  France. 

"  If  I  dont  get  this  money  I  dont  wanta  wear  the  uniform. 
Before  now  I  am  having  much  pride  bout  wearing  uniform  and 
I  am  theenking  how  ma  wife  would  say  as  it  was  beautiful.  But 
now  our  friends  they  laugh  at  me. 

"  I  am  hoping  I  get  letter  from  you  and  money  too. 

"  Giovanni  Antonelli." 

To  do  the  large  amount  of  home  visiting  that  was 
called  for  it  was  necessary  to  find  men  and  women  of  tact 
and  good  judgment  and  much  common  sense, —  workers 
who  might  know  just  when  and  how  much  and  what  kind 
of  assistance  should  be  given  to  these  Italian  families 
of  United  States  soldiers  in  order  not  to  encourage  the 
spirit  of  dependency,  and  at  the  same  time  to  keep  them 
from  falling  below  the  level  of  decent  and  respectable  liv- 
ing as  measured  by  the  standards  of  their  several  com- 
munities, and  to  know  how  to  interpret  this  relief  in  terms 
of  dollars  and  cents  —  or  to  be  more  exact,  lire  —  not 
an  easy  matter  in  the  small  Sicilian  hill  towns  where  the 
people,  like  our  own  American  Indians,  are  in  the  habit 
of  exchanging  one  commodity  of  which  they  have  a  sur- 
plus for  another  of  which  they  have  need,  and  hardly  know 
what  to  do  with  legal  tender.  These  workers  had  to  have 
a  fluent  knowledge  of  Italian  in  order  to  thread  their 
way  through  the  maze  of  the  many  dialects,  for  there  is 


AMERICAN  TROOPS  IN  ITALY  177 

a  saying  in  Italy  that  there  are  two  hundred  and  nine 
varieties  of  cheese  made  and  two  hundred  and  ten  varie- 
ties of  Italian  spoken.  And  they  must  be  humble-minded 
enough  to  endure  the  hospitality  of  a  spare  room  fre- 
quently shared  with  the  favorite  pig  or  the  family  goat. 
Such  agents  were  found,  and  they  have  carried  on  their 
work  under  the  burning  Sicilian  sun,  in  the  bleak  and 
forbidding  mountains  of  the  Abruzzi,  and  through  the 
desolated  regions  of  the  Piave.  They  have  stood  all  night 
in  the  corridors  of  over-crowded  trains  and  then  worked 
all  day  in  the  village  piazza,  or  in  a  small  room  where 
people,  odoriferous  and  noisy,  have  pressed  about  eager 
for  an  interview  with  the  American  Red  Cross. 

In  the  north  where  the  cases  were  more  scattered  the 
Red  Cross  agent  personally  visited  each  family.  In  the 
Veneto  and  along  the  Piave,  in  the  invaded  districts, 
were  many  families  who  had  given  sons  to  the  American 
army  who  had  formerly  been  thrifty  and  used  to  some 
degree  of  comfort,  and  had  lost  everything  through  the 
hardships  of  war,  including  their  cattle,  and  not  infre- 
quently their  homes.  To  these  families,  special  victims 
of  the  war's  hardships,  relief  was  given  more  generously 
than  elsewhere.  But  in  a  number  of  instances  where  re- 
lief was  offered  it  was  declined.  The  spirit  of  these 
people  was  well  expressed  by  the  Mayor  of  one  to\vn  who 
had  thanked  the  Red  Cross  for  its  services  in  assisting 
the  families  of  American  soldiers  in  filling  out  the  blanks 
which  proved  their  claims,  but  when  asked  if  the  Red 
Cross  might  be  of  monetary  assistance,  replied  with  quiet 
pride :  "  We  have  suffered  much  in  this  war,  but  we 
have  learned  to  endure.  The  Italian  government  will 
soon  make  recompense  for  our  losses;  your  government 
will  soon  send  what  is  due,  and  that  is  enough." 

This  was  not  the  spirit  shown  in  Sicily  and  in  south- 
ern Italy.  But  no  one  who  has  any  knowledge  of  the 
extreme  hardships  which  the  people  endured  in  that  pov- 
erty-stricken portion  of  Italy  during  the  war  will  find 


178         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

fault  with  their  eagerness  to  take  what  they  could  get 
from  the  bounty  of  their  rich  ally.  Most  of  the  cases 
dealt  with  were  in  this  part  of  Italy,  and  no  attempt  was 
made  to  visit  each  one  personally.  The  Mayor  of  a  town 
would  be  notified  that  on  a  certain  day  the  Red  Cross 
representative  would  arrive,  and  he  would  be  asked  to 
notify  all  those  who  had  claims  of  any  kind  to  interview 
the  agent.  And  at  the  same  time  the  Red  Cross  sent 
notices  direct  to  all  persons  in  the  neighborhood  of  whom 
it  had  record.  Sometimes  the  notice  was  given  by 
placards  posted  throughout  the  district,  and  often  the 
town  crier  went  forth  to  announce  the  arrival  of  the 
agent,  who  in  one  instance  was  referred  to  as  "  the  United 
States  of  America  that  has  arrived."  Peasants  rode  and 
walked  over  hills,  down  dusty  roads,  to  present  their 
claims,  bringing  with  them,  by  instruction,  any  documents 
they  might  have  to  establish  their  case,  which  consisted 
of  ever}1;hing  from  letters  written  by  the  soldier  on  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  paper  to  the  various  forms  and  instructions  re- 
ceived from  the  United  States  War  Department  or  the  Bu- 
reau of  War  Risk  Insurance,  the  latter  printed  in  English 
and  cherished  as  something  almost  sacred,  and  usually 
carried  inside  the  corsets,  which  the  Italian  peasants  wear 
outside  their  dresses.  Generally  the  agent  was  able  to 
secure  the  assistance  of  some  official  of  the  district  or 
some  member  of  the  Italian  Red  Cross  in  filling  in  the 
various  forms;  and  printed  instructions,  in  Italian,  were 
left  with  him  that  he  might  take  care  of  future  cases 
in  his  district. 

It  was  the  plan  of  the  Red  Cross  to  give  relief  only 
in  those  cases  of  evident  distress  caused  by  the  failure  of 
the  United  States  government  to  get  its  allotment  cheques 
through,  which  would  have  taken  the  place  of  the  money 
that  formerly  the  soldier  had  been  in  the  habit  of  sending 
to  his  family  when  he  was  a  workman  in  America.  This 
relief  was,  however,  reduced  to  a  minimum,  and  the  chief 
efforts  of  the  Red  Cross  agents  were  expended  in  assist- 


AMERICAN  TROOPS  IN  ITALY  179 

ing  the  families  to  establish  their  claims  to  allowance, 
compensation,  or  insui'ance.  In  some  cases  where  the 
families  lived  in  altogether  inaccessible  communities  the 
Red  Cross  has  depended  upon  the  carabinieri,  Italy's  in- 
comparable military  police,  who  cover  every  part  of  the 
country  on  foot.  More  than  five  thousand  claim  blanks 
were  filled  in  directly  by  the  Red  Cross  agents,  and  ten 
times  that  number  indirectly  through  instructions  they 
gave  to  others. 

About  a  year  after  the  armistice  the  Red  Cross  entered 
upon  its  final  phase  of  work.  There  were  thirty  thousand 
men  in  the  United  States, —  some  were  American  citizens 
and  some  had  taken  out  their  first  papers, —  who  answered 
the  call  to  arms  from  across  the  water  when  Italy  first 
entered  the  war.  The  Italian  government  agreed  to  pay 
the  transportation  of  these  men  to  Italy  and  to  return 
them  to  the  United  States  within  two  years  after  the  war. 
There  were,  in  l^ovember,  1919,  nearly  four  thousand  of 
these  men,  many  of  them  with  their  families,  gathered  in 
Naples  waiting  to  embark  for  America,  and  twenty  thou- 
sand more  were  expected  during  the  following  six  months. 
The  American  Consulate  at  Naples  was  so  over-burdened 
by  the  extra  work  of  viseing  the  passports  for  these 
people  that  they  were  of  necessity  being  detained  from 
one  to  five  weeks  at  the  Casa  degli  Emigranti.  The  Con- 
sulate had  no  funds  with  which  to  meet  this  emergency, 
and  before  it  could  get  them  the  need  would  probably  be 
over.  Therefore  it  has  seemed  but  right  to  regard  it  as 
a  part  of  the  task  of  the  Red  Cross  to  relieve  this  con- 
dition, which  is  in  truth  caused  by  a  war  emergency. 
Accordingly  the  Red  Cross  has  been  paying  the  salaries 
of  extra  clerks  to  expedite  the  work  of  viseing  the  pass- 
ports of  these  reservists.  And  it  has  in  addition  attempted 
to  relieve  the  hardships  of  their  delay  in  Naples  by  look- 
ing after  their  welfare  —  providing  extra  food,  beds, 
etc.,  at  the  Casa  degli  Emigranti.  It  may  not  be  strictly 
Home  Service  work,  but  it  is  a  legitimate  extension  of 


180         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

Red    Cross    activity    which    can    only    bear    good    fruit 
The  men  and  women  who  have  for  the  past  year  been 
engaged   in   Home    Service   work   have   performed   their 
tasks  with  devotion  and  enthusiasm.     Had  you  chanced 
to  meet  one  of  them  returning  to  the  city  after  a  ten 
days'  campaign  in  the  field,  tired,  with  digestion  upset, 
and  sadly  in  need  of  a  bath,  and  asked  him  to  tell  you 
of  his  experience,  he  would  lightly  pass  over  the  discom- 
forts  and   dwell   at  length  upon   the  unfailing  courtesy 
of  the  people,   from  the  officials   down  to  the  humblest 
widow  or  little  child.     He  did  not  feel  in  the  least  like 
a  martyr.     He  had  had  to  ward  off  too  much  adoration 
and  gratitude  all  along  the  line.     But  he  would  gladly  tell 
you  what  the  experience  of  being  in  touch  with  this  gra- 
cious people  has  meant,  what  an  opportunity  he  has  had 
to  know  Italy  as  few  Americans  do,  what  he  has  learned 
about  the  sources  of  emigration,  and  most  of  all  what 
pointers  he  could  give  the  various  organizations  at  home 
that  are  interesting  themselves  in  the  problems  of  Amer- 
icanization.    During   these   latter    months   the    relations 
between  Italy  and  America  have  been  at  times  rather 
tense.     The  Fiume  question  has  been  uppermost  in  the 
minds  of  the  Italians,  and  has  not  been  far  in  the  back- 
ground of  the  consciousness  of  any  of  our  representa- 
tives.    And  yet  not  one  of  them  has  met  with  the  slight- 
est discourtesy,  nor  has  the  delay  on  the  part  of  the  United 
States   government   in   redeeming  its  pledges   met   with 
any  criticism  other  than  that  of  natural  impatience  over 
the  necessity  of  waiting  so  long.     On  the  other  hand  the 
realization  that  America  —  and  the  people  usually  took 
the  Red  Cross  agents  to  be  representatives  of  the  Govern- 
ment—^  was    sufficiently    interested    in    their    individual 
cases  to  know  or  care  whether  they  received  their  subsidy, 
was    almost   past   comprehension.     Truly   they  had   sent 
their  own  men  forth  to  a  land  not  only  of  great  riches  but 
also  of  great  ideals.     And  they  understood,  perhaps  for 
the  first  time,  how  the  sons  of  Italy  could  go  forth  just 


AMERICAN  TROOPS  IN  ITALY  181 

as  joyously  to  fight  for  their  new  country  as  their  brothers 
went  forth  to  fight  for  Italy.  Who  can  doubt  that  these 
sons  of  Italy,  now  that  the  battle  is  over,  and  they  are 
taking  up  the  burden  of  their  lives  once  more  in  the  land 
of  their  adoption,  will  do  so  with  a  greater  courage,  a 
stouter  faith,  and  deeper  loyalty  because  of  their  knowl- 
edge that  the  United  States  was  mindful  of  their  services 
even  to  the  extent  of  personally  looking  after  the  needs 
of  those  whom  they  had  left  behind  in  Italy.  ^ 

1 1  have  drawn  freely  in  the  above  narrative  of  Home  Service  work 
upon  the  excellent  report  which  Miss  Mildred  Chadsey,  director  of 
this  branch  of  the  Red  Cross  activity  in  Italy  after  May,  1919,  pre- 
pared for  my  use. 


CHAPTER  X 

The  Battle  of  Vittorio  Veneto  —  Ambulances  and  Eolling 
Canteens  —  Feeding  the  Eeturned  Prisoners  at  Trieste  — 
Eelief  in  the  Invaded  Territory  —  Aiding  Kepatriates  in  the 
Trentino 

In-  the  summer  and  early  fall  of  1918  the  quiet  on 
the  Italian  front  was  broken  only  by  occasional  skir- 
mishes, or  by  isolated  efforts  on  either  side  to  wrest  some 
minor  strategic  position  from  the  opposed  forces.  Ever 
since  the  battle  of  the  Piave  in  June  had  shown  that  in 
an  open  fight  the  Austrians  were  no  match  for  the  Italians, 
the  Italian  soldiers  had  acquired  renewed  confidence  in 
themselves.  They  had  taken  once  more  to  singing  as 
they  marched,  and,  instead  of  looking  ahead  with  appre- 
hension to  the  time  when  Austria  should  launch  her  blow, 
began  to  grow  restive  waiting  for  Italy  to  assume  the  of- 
fensive. Nor  was  the  impatience  confined  to  the  men  at 
the  front.  There  were  many  who  were  asking :  "  Why 
doesn't  the  army  move  ?  " 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  armies  of  Italy,  with 
its  population  of  less  than  forty  million,  were  standing 
practically  alone  against  the  armies  of  Austria,  with  its 
population  of  fifty-seven  million.  It  is  true  that  there  were 
on  the  Italian  front  three  divisions  of  French,  two  of 
English,  one  Czecho-Slovak  division,  and  one  regiment  of 
Americans;  but  these  were  more  than  out-numbered  by 
the  Italians  fighting  on  the  Serbian  and  French  fronts. 
In  all,  the  enemy  had  a  preponderance  of  some  twenty 
divisions.  Moreover,  on  the  mountain  front  in  the  north 
the  Italians  might  still  be  said  to  be  "  like  men  hanging 
by  their  fingers  to  a  window  sill."     And  the  Austrians 

182 


THE  BATTLE  OF  VITTORIO  VENETO  183 

were  higher  up,  entrenched  in  apparently  impregnable 
positions.  An  advance  to  the  east  over  the  Piave  could 
not  be  undertaken  with  safety  if  there  were  any  uncertainty 
of  the  situation  in  the  north.  Meanwhile  economic  condi- 
tions and  food  conditions  had  become  so  bad  that  a  pre- 
mature offensive  ending  in  defeat,  or  even  in  a  draw, 
would  have  made  it  exceedingly  difficult  for  Italy  to  hold 
out  through  the  coming  winter.  Patiently  and  thoroughly 
General  Diaz  had  been  making  his  preparations,  and  on 
the  24th  of  October,  precisely  one  year  after  the  disaster 
of  Caporetto,  the  attack  was  launched  simultaneously  on 
both  fronts. 

It  is  a  mystery  to  a  layman  how  an  army  can  remain 
intact  while  the  country  that  supports  it  is  politically  dis- 
integrating. Austria  ever  since  the  defeat  in  June  had 
been  going  to  pieces.  But  her  army  was  still  a  powerful 
and  well  organized  fighting  machine,  and  gave  a  good  ac- 
count of  itself,  taking  heavy  toll  of  the  Italians,  partic- 
ularly on  the  mountain  front,  where  heights  were  often 
captured,  lost,  and  recaptured  more  than  once.  On  the 
plain  the  difficulties  of  the  attack  were  increased  by  the 
fact  that  rain  had  come  and  the  Piave  was  in  flood,  rushing 
madly  over  its  gravel  bed  at  the  rate  of  eight  feet  a  second. 
Throwing  pontoon  bridges  across  this  river  would  have 
been  no  easy  matter  had  there  been  no  enemy  fire  to  face. 
Perhaps  nowhere  did  the  spirit  of  the  Italian  army  show 
to  better  advantage  than  here  where  the  shells  were  falling 
fast,  and  promptly,  as  one  group  of  workers  was  wiped  out, 
another  would  move  forward  to  take  its  place  with  perfect 
order  and  discipline.  At  six  different  points  the  bridges 
were  laid,  and  over  them  the  Armies  crowded  after  the 
way  had  been  prepared  by  a  heavy  barrage,  all  the  Allies 
finely  cooperating.  Though  the  enemy  resistance  for  the 
first  few  days  had  been  stubborn,  when  the  line  once  broke 
the  army  collapsed  and  the  retreat  fast  became  a  rout. 
The  allied  armies  followed  close  on  the  heels  of  the  re- 
treating enemy.     There  was  some  rear-guard  fighting,  and 


184         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

a  brief  stand  was  made  at  Vittorio,  and  on  the  lower 
Tagliamento.  But  these  efforts  were  ineffectual.  The 
Italians  pushed  on  through  Vittorio,  up  the  valle}'  of 
the  Meschio,  took  the  lower  Alps  of  Belluno,  at  about  the 
same  time  that  the  forces  further  west  were  entering  Feltre, 
thus  effectively  cutting  off  the  line  of  supplies  from  the 
troops  still  holding  their  own  on  the  Grappa  massif,  which 
were  forced  to  surrender. 

The  enemy  had  been  driven  back  more  rapidly  than  the 
Italians  had  been  forced  back  over  the  same  ground  the 
year  before.  It  was  a  complete  military  victory.  And 
the  army  of  Austria  was  a  thing  of  the  past.  Caporetto 
was  avenged.  The  armistice  was  signed  on  the  third  of 
November  amid  wild  enthusiasm.^ 

When  the  first  news  of  the  coming  offensive  reached  our 
Red  Cross  ambulance  sections  it  found  the  men  ready  and 
eager.  Section  Four,  situated  at  Schio  and  serving  in  the 
Asiago  sector,  had  had  an  eventful  month  in  September. 
But  less  activity  was  expected  on  this  part  of  the  front  in 
the  coming  battle  and  consequently  five  of  its  ambulances 
were  assigned  to  Section  One,  at  Bassano,  which  was  serv- 
ing the  army  on  the  Grappa  and  was  therefore  expected  to 
be  in  the  center  of  greatest  activity.  There  was  keen 
rivalry  for  the  posts  of  danger.  No  one  wanted  the  tame 
but  safe  job  of  evacuation  work  at  the  rear,  or  posts  on 
what  promised  to  be  a  quiet  part  of  the  line.  Our  men 
were  eager,  almost  too  eager,  to  push  forward,  and  many 
a  "  Bravo  Americano !  "  greeted  the  ears  of  a  driver  as 
his  car  would  slip  across  some  shell-ripped  road  to  the 
dressing  post  just  behind  the  line.  Bassano  was  heavily 
bombarded  in  the  early  days  of  the  battle.  On  the  26th 
of  October  a  shell  exploding  in  the  Brenta  just  beside  our 

1  The  Italians  lost  during  the  war  half  a  million  dead,  and  a  mil- 
lion wounded.  Her  national  debt  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  was 
less  than  fifteen  billion  lire.  On  the  31st  of  October,  1919,  this  had 
increased  to  nearly  eighty-four  billion.  During  the  same  time  her 
paper  currency  increased  from  two  and  three-quarter  billion  to  nearly 
twelve  billion. 


>    ^ 


American  Red  Cross  anilmlaiice  taking  the  wounded  from  a 
dressing  station  just  behind  the  line. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  VITTORIO  VENETO  186 

ambulance  headquarters,  threw  a  sheet  of  water  over  the 
section  chief  who  was  sitting  at  his  desk.  And  a  few 
minutes  later  another  fell  in  the  courtyard  on  the  other 
side  of  the  house,  as  a  group  of  Arditi  were  hurrying  by, 
killing  three  of  them  and  wounding  seven.  For  many 
months  Bassano  had  been  a  special  target  for  Austrian 
guns,  and  this  much-battered  to^vn  was  almost  deserted  by 
its  peace-time  inhabitants.  However,  our  men  stationed 
here  met  with  but  one  fatality.  On  the  29th  of  September 
a  shell  had  fallen  near  section  headquarters,  mortally 
wounding  volunteer  Joseph  M.  King,  a  youth  of  nineteen 
who,  having  been  refused  for  more  active  service  because 
of  a  comparatively  weak  constitution,  had  enlisted  as  an 
ambulance  driver,  which  service  he  performed  faithfully 
and  with  enthusiasm.  He  faced  death  with  a  smile,  as  a 
brave  man  should,  and  passed  away  peacefully  in  the 
hospital  six  hours  after  he  had  been  wounded.  He  was 
buried  with  military  honors,  being  borne  to  his  resting 
place  in  his  own  grey  ambulance. 

The  Piave  River  and  the  Grappa  Mountain  will  always 
hereafter  be  objects  of  veneration  to  the  Italians, —  the 
last  line  of  defense,  the  chief  bulwarks  of  her  protection, 
on  the  east  and  the  north.  The  Grappa  rises  precipitously 
from  the  plain  just  where  the  Brenta  River  emerges  from 
the  mountain  valleys.  From  its  summit,  on  a  clear  day, 
one  could  follow  the  whole  battle  line  on  the  Piave,  with 
Venice  plainly  visible  in  the  far  distance.  It  was  the 
pivotal  position  on  the  mountain  front,  and  was  the  scene 
of  some  of  tlie  hardest  fighting  of  the  war. 

Our  Section  One  served  five  outposts  during  the  ofi^en- 
sive,  each  provided  with  its  own  depot  of  gasoline,  oil  and 
supplies,  in  charge  of  an  Italian  mechanic.  The  most 
interesting  and  arduous  of  these  posts  were  the  three  on 
the  Grappa.  The  roads  up  this  mountain  were  well  made, 
but  very  steep,  and  they  zigzagged  back  and  forth  with 
sharp  angles.  The  Italians  had  been  continuously  at  work 
widening  and  improving  them,  so  that  there  was  room  for 


1S6         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

two  gcX)d-sizcd  camions  to  pass,  with  a  margin  of  a  few 
feet,  but  there  was  no  protection  on  the  side,  and  it  was 
always  a  thrilling  ride.  A  slight  miscalculation,  and  the 
car  would  not  stop  until  it  had  rolled  to  the  bottom.  "  You 
have  excellent  drivers  here,"  Kipling  is  said  to  have  re- 
marked to  an  Italian  colonel  as  they  were  descending  the 
Grappa.  "  Yes,"  he  replied,  "  the  rest  are  down  there," 
pointing  over  the  edge  to  the  valley  beneath.  And  now  the 
roads  were  congested  with  the  heavy  traffic  of  war,  and 
with  troops  always  going  up  or  coming  down ;  and  frequent 
shell  holes,  dislodged  stones,  and  unexploded  shells  added 
to  the  difficulties  and  dangers.  It  required  strength  and 
courage  and  constant  attention  on  the  part  of  the  drivers 
who  were  responsible  for  getting  their  human  freight 
through  in  safety  to  the  nearest  distributing  station,  often 
as  many  as  fifteen  wounded  men  being  taken  on  a  single 
trip.  Provisions  were  rationed  to  each  car  and  the  men 
worked  day  and  night.  The  night  work  was  especially 
heavy ;  for  long  periods  the  number  of  wounded  was  so 
great  that  the  ambulances  did  not  stop  their  motors  between 
trips. 

While  Section  One  had  been  making  service  history  in 
the  mountains,  Sections  Five  and  Three  were  working  on 
the  plains.  Section  Five,  with  headquarters  at  Maser,  was 
attached  to  two  units  of  the  Medical  Corps  of  the  Italian 
Army  and  was  serving  posts  on  the  middle  Piave.  On  the 
30th  of  October  it  crossed  the  river  at  Barche-Vidor  and 
continued  its  work  under  great  difficulties.  The  Austrians 
had  allowed  the  roads  to  go  to  ruin,  trusting  chiefly  to  a 
narrow  gauge  track  that  they  had  built  along  the  highways 
and  across  the  fields  to  transport  army  supplies.  They 
were  badly  cut  up  by  the  heavy  army  trucks  with  their  iron 
tires  —  rubber  had  long  since  given  out  in  Austria  —  and 
they  were,  besides,  a  series  of  shell  holes,  visible  evidence 
of  the  effectiveness  of  the  Italian  artillery  fire.  Every- 
where were  signs  of  a  precipitate  retreat:  thousands  of 
helmets  and  gas  masks  cast  aside,  abandoned  trucks  and 


THE  BATTLE  OF  VITTORIO  VENETO  187 

cannon,  which  the  enemy  had  not  had  time  to  wreck ;  and 
there  were  great  quantities  of  unexploded  shells  and  hand 
grenades  lying  around  which  were  to  prove  the  cause  of 
many  a  little  tragedy  before  they  were  finally  cleared 
away. 

And  always  there  was  the  endless  line  of  Austrian  pris- 
oners in  their  shabby  grey  uniforms.  They  seemed  to  be 
in  fairly  good  physical  condition,  but  were  listless  and 
apathetic,  just  a  sea  of  bewildered  humanity.  ISTo  one  ap- 
peared to  know  what  it  had  all  been  about,  or  to  care.  All 
interest  in  life  seemed  crushed  out  of  them,  a  tragic  evi- 
dence of  the  deadening  effect  of  the  war  upon  countless 
numbers  of  men  who  are,  with  unconscious  irony,  said  to 
have  survived.  A  Red  Cross  representative  passing  a  com- 
pany of  these  prisoners  resting  by  the  roadside  was  hailed 
by  the  Italian  officer  who  had  them  in  charge  and  asked  if 
he  could  not  provide  something  for  them  to  eat,  since  they 
had  been  a  long  time  without  food.  He  gave  them  what  he 
had,  which  was  not  much,  and  the  Austrian  captain,  after 
a  formal  salute,  divided  it  in  small  portions  while  his  men 
crowded  around  like  hungry  wolves.  It  was  a  trifling  inci- 
dent, but  typical  of  the  general  kindly  attitude  of  the  vic- 
tors toward  the  vanquished.  It  was  the  same  spirit  that 
has  led  the  Italians  in  recent  months  to  take  thousands  of 
starving  Austrian  children  under  their  care,  feeding  them 
to  a  large  extent  by  means  of  funds  provided  by  their 
compatriots  in  America. 

Now  and  again  our  ambulances  were  despatched  along 
little  side  roads  into  sequestered  valleys  where  there  were 
hospitals  that  had  served  the  enemy,  still  filled  with  Aus- 
trian sick  and  wounded  who  were  in  the  last  stages  of 
wretchedness,  for  they  had  been  deserted  by  their  doctors 
and  nurses,  and  left  for  several  davs  without  food  or  care. 
The  Italians  took  tender  care  of  them,  sending  them  back 
to  the  bridge-heads,  thence  to  be  taken  to  the  hospitals  in 
the  rear.     But  many  died  before  they  could  be  moved. 

Section  Three,  working  on  the  lower  Piave,  which  had 


188         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

made  a  record  for  its  work  in  September,  had  less  exciting 
but  scarcely  less  difficult  tasks  during  the  final  offensive. 
It  was  sent  forward  with  the  advancing  army  until  some 
of  its  outposts  reached  as  far  as  the  suburbs  of  Trieste. 
But  the  war  was  over,  and  this  part  of  the  Red  Cross  work 
was  done.  During  the  month  of  the  offensive  and  the  first 
two  weeks  of  November  our  ambulances  had  carried  in  all, 
in  2500  trips,  30,492  cases,  a  total  distance  of  269,347 
kilometers. 

The  ambulance  sections  were  all  withdrawn  from  the 
field  and  disbanded  in  November,  the  cars,  equipment,  and 
some  of  the  personnel  being  transferred  to  the  Departments 
of  Transportation  and  Civil  Affairs,  which,  in  the  re- 
deemed districts,  were  just  entering  upon  a  new  phase  of 
Eed  Cross  activity  that  was  soon  to  reach  colossal  pro- 
portions. 

In  preparation  for  the  great  battle  there  had  been  some 
shifts  in  the  positions  of  our  rolling  canteens  in  order  that 
they  might  be  of  greater  service  to  the  troops  that  were  to 
bear  the  brunt  of  the  fighting.  After  a  strenuous  week, 
during  which  single  canteens  reached  as  many  as  ten  thou- 
sand soldiers  a  day  on  their  way  to  and  from  the  trenches, 
these  canteens  followed  their  divisions  across  the  river. 
But  the  rapid  progress  of  the  army  and  an  insufficient 
supply  of  camions  made  it  difficult  to  continue  this  service 
with  the  advancing  troops.  However,  the  need  for  it  had 
ceased.  The  spirit  of  a  victorious  army  needs  no  stimula- 
tion. And  so  these  canteens  generally  ended  their  days  in 
some  small  town  like  Chiarano,  Fossalta  Maggiore,  Portia, 
Sedico,  where,  in  response  to  the  joint  request  of  military 
and  civil  authorities,  they  gave  what  they  had  to  relieve  the 
greater  needs  of  the  civilian  population. 

On  the  third  of  November  a  contingent  of  Italian  Bersa- 
glieri  landed  at  Trieste  and  took  the  city  without  firing  a 
shot.  Perhaps  it  would  be  more  accurate  to  say,  they  en- 
tered on  invitation  and  were  welcomed  as  deliverers. 
Word  was  at  once  sent  to  our  Red  Cross  delegate  at  Venice 


THE  BATTLE  OF  VITTORIO  VENETO  189 

tbat  the  hospitals  were  in  great  need  of  food  and  supplies. 
A  boat  was  immediately  loaded,  and  within  thirty-six  hours 
after  the  Italians  entered  the  city,  the  Ked  Cross  repre- 
sentative was  there  with  50,000  lire  worth  of  the  necessary 
articles.  After  distributing  these  supplies  he  returned,  re- 
porting no  further  need  of  Eed  Cross  aid  in  Trieste, — 
which  only  showed  that,  although  the  war  was  over,  condi- 
tions might  still  change  completely  over  night.  He  could 
not  have  foreseen  that  within  a  few  days  one  of  the  gravest 
situations  Italy  had  to  face,  one  most  demanding  Red  Cross 
relief,  would  suddenly  develop  in  Trieste. 

On  the  tenth  of  ISTovember  the  King  arrived  at  Trieste, 
followed  by  the  Inter-Allied  Military  Mission,  which 
joined  the  royal  procession,  and  was  conducted  through  the 
cheering  crowds  as  on  a  pilgrimage  to  the  picturesque  old 
church  of  San  Giusto,  which  has  been  venerated  for  cen- 
turies by  the  Italian  population.  The  church  was  in  a  bad 
state  of  repair,  the  Austrians  not  having  allowed  it  to  be  kept 
up,  since  it  was  in  a  way  the  center  and  the  embodiment  of 
the  nationalist  aspirations  of  the  Italians  of  Trieste.  Now 
the  Italians  never  let  material  needs  take  precedence  over 
sentiment.  Already  a  scaffolding  was  in  place,  and  the 
work  of  restoration  had  begun. 

But  there  were  in  Trieste  that  day  over  ten  thousand 
unbidden  and  unwelcome  guests.  Immediately  after  the 
signing  of  the  armistice  Austria  turned  loose  all  the 
Italian  prisoners,  of  whom  there  were  some  four  hundred 
thousand.  They  had  gone  south  by  the  shortest  route, 
and  were  pouring  into  Trieste,  hoping  for  transportation 
by  water  to  Venice  where  they  could  entrain  and  continue 
their  journey.  Always  under-nourished  in  the  prison 
camps  of  Austria,  they  had  been  walking  for  days  almost 
without  food.  They  were  all  in  rags,  many  of  them  bare- 
foot, many  with  pieces  of  old  cloth  or  sacking  tied  around 
their  feet,  scarcely  one  with  a  sound  pair  of  shoes.  When 
at  last  they  dragged  themselves  down  the  hill  into  Trieste 
it  was  only  to  find  themselves  shut  in  the  concentration 


190         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

camp  that  had  been  hurriedly  improvised  behind  the  iron 
fence  that  surrounds  the  wonderful  docks  of  this  port. 
The  situation  was  appalling.     'No  one  who  saw  it  can  ever 
forget  the  haunting  picture  of  these  dazed  and  wretched 
men,  clinging  to  the  palings  of  the  iron  fence,  and  gazing 
hungrily  at  the  crowds  outside  making  merry  over  the 
King's  visit.     The  best  the  government  could  do  was  to 
transport  a  few  thousand  a  day ;  but  they  kept  coming  in 
such  numbers  that  before  long  there  were  a  hundred  thou- 
sand in  camp  waiting  to  embark,     l^o  one  had  anticipated 
such  a  situation,  and  the  government  was  almost  helpless 
in  the  matter  of  providing  food.     There  was  literally  no 
food  available  in  Trieste.     Lard  was  selling,  figured  at 
the  then  rate  of  exchange,  at  ten  dollars  a  pound,  dried 
herring  at  $1.75  a  pound,  rice  at  $2.50  a  pound.     Bread 
was  unspeakably  bad  and  very  scarce.     Most  fortunately 
one  of  our  rolling  canteens  immediately  after  the  armistice 
had  pushed  on  through  the  Austrian  lines  to  Trieste  and 
was  there  when  the  prisoners  began  to  arrive.     It  was  at 
once  set  up  in  the  concentration  camp.     But  its  two  mar- 
mites  could  provide  only  five  hundred  portions  at  a  time, 
which  soon  proved  inadequate.     Long  before  the  soup  was 
ready^  in   the  kettles   a   line   of   thousands   would   form. 
Starving  men,  when  a  certain  limit  is  reached,  will  fight 
for  food.     Sometimes  the  line  broke,  and  the  distribution 
had  to  be  suspended  to  prevent  riots.     But  fourteen  addi- 
tional kettles  were  promptly  secured,   food  was  rushed 
by  water  and  by  land  from  our  well-stocked  warehouses, 
and  during  the  nineteen  days  that  elapsed  before  the  pris- 
oners could  be  removed  the  Bed  Cross  served  700,000  por- 
tions, each  consisting  of  about  a  liter  of  hot,  strong  soup. 
In  addition  to  giving  food  it  distributed  25,000  woolen 
garments  and  1500  pairs  of  shoes.     The  work  was  greatly 
appreciated  by  the  military  authorities  who  spoke  of  it 
as  a  veritable  "  act   of  Providence."     The  British  Bed 
Cross   also   gave  valuable   assistance,   providing   190,000 
rations,  about  three-fourths  of  them  being  the  triple  army 


THE  BATTLE  OF  VITTORIO  VENETO  191 

ration,  beside  furnishing  large  quantities  of  horse  meat. 

There  was  a  great  deal  of  sickness  in  the  camp  and  the 
Italian  authorities  found  it  necessary  to  open  seven  emer- 
gency hospitals  with  a  capacity  of  7,000  pa-tients.  These 
were  filled  almost  immediately,  and  the  Eed  Cross  was  able 
to  be  of  great  assistance  by  supplying  food  and  disin- 
fectants. 

After  the  closing  down  of  the  work  in  Trieste  a  small 
steamer  was  secured  through  the  courtesy  of  the  naval  au- 
thorities and  food  was  distributed  to  a  number  of  small 
towns  on  the  Istrian  coast  which  were  found  to  be  in  very 
great  need. 

The  universal  rejoicing  in  Italy  when  the  armistice  was 
signed  and  the  war  ended  in  victory  was  accompanied  by  a 
peculiar  sense  of  exaltation  due  to  the  consciousness  that 
at  last  the  hour  of  vindication  had  come.  The  tricolor  had 
been  planted  on  the  natural  protective  boundaries,  the 
Brenner  in  the  north  and  the  Julian  Alps  in  the  east. 
And  the  dream  of  the  old  heroes  had  been  realized.  All 
the  Italian  lands  had  been  redeemed  —  all,  save  a  few 
small  colonies  scattered  along  the  Adriatic.  The  unity  of 
Italy  was  an  accomplished  fact.  But  the  rejoicing  was 
immediately  checked  by  the  sobering  knowledge  that  the 
armistice  had  but  substituted  new  burdens  for  old.  All 
the  once  prosperous  little  towns  along  the  Piave,  extending 
through  a  strip  about  ten  miles  in  width,  were  mere  heaps 
of  ruins.  The  same  desolation  existed  along  the  Brenta, 
up  through  the  Val  Sugana,  and  through  the  Val  Lagurina. 
The  situation  was  no  better  along  the  old  battle  line  near 
the  Isonzo.  And  many  of  the  towns  not  on  the  battle 
fronts  had  been  badly  battered  by  air  raids. 

The  people  who  had  remained  in  the  four  Italian 
provinces  that  had  been  occupied  for  a  year  by  the  Aus- 
trians  were  in  a  state  of  utter  destitution.  The  enemy  had 
not  been  guilty  of  acts  of  fiendishness  such  as  are  reported 
of  the  Germans  in  Belgium  and  France.     They  had  set  no 


192         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

traps  as  they  withdrew.  There  had  been  no  wanton  de- 
struction of  property,  and  but  little  deliberate  fouling  of 
houses.  But  there  had  been  systematic  and  wholesale  rob- 
bery. In  the  early  days  of  occupation  all  the  Italian 
money  had  been  taken  from  the  people  and  they  had  been 
given  in  return  the  much-depreciated  Austrian  money. 
Later  this  was  taken  from  them  and  they  were  given  in  ex- 
change worthless  paper  money  issued  on  the  non-existent 
Bank  of  the  Veneto.  The  houses  that  had  been  deserted  by 
the  refugees  in  the  exodus  after  Caporetto  had  been 
stripped  of  everything,  and  in  many  cases  were  left 
mere  shells,  even  the  floors  having  been  cut  out  for  the  sake 
of  the  timbers.  And  from  all  the  houses  everything 
of  any  value  had  been  stolen  and  shipped  to  Austria. 
The  pillaging  had  been  carried  so  far  that  the  glass  had 
been  taken  from  the  windows,  the  blankets  from  the 
beds,  the  locks  from  the  doors,  the  bells  from  the 
churches,  the  candles  from  the  altars.  Even  the  hos- 
pitals had  been  despoiled.  All  the  better  clothing  had 
been  seized  and  the  people  were  left  with  nothing  but 
the  ragged  garments  on  their  backs.  In  some  communi- 
ties the  best  of  the  women's  garments  had  been  given  in 
the  early  days  of  the  occupation  to  the  small  army  of 
prostitutes  that  the  enemy  brought  with  them,  who  were 
in  every  way  favored  at  the  expense  of  decent  women. 
The  latter  were  subjected  to  constant  insult.  The  invaders 
had  been  particularly  rough  on  the  women,  and  many 
heart-rending  tales  were  told  of  their  sufferings.  Nearly 
all  the  live-stock  had  been  seized  for  the  uses  of  the  army. 
All  the  food  had  been  requistioned,  and  the  most  meagre 
rations  doled  out  to  the  inhabitants.  The  amount  and  the 
kind  of  food  distributed  varied  in  different  localities.  In 
some  places  it  was  20  grams  of  corn  meal  a  day ;  in  others 
30  grams  of  a  flour  said  to  have  been  made  of  chestnuts, 
acorns,  bran,  and  grass.  Besides  this  small  quantity  of 
meal,  cabbages  constituted  the  chief  article  of  diet.  The 
people  had  been  subsisting  largely  on  cabbage  soup,  and 


THE  BATTLE  OF  VITTORIO  VENETO  193 

on  what  herbs  and  roots  they  could  gather  from  the  fields. 
And  the  armj  in  its  flight  had  seized  everything  edible  that 
they  could  lay  their  hands  upon,  even  entering  the  peasants' 
houses  and  taking  the  polenta  from  the  stoves.  During 
the  year  of  occupation,  thousands,  particularly  the  children 
and  the  very  old,  had  died  of  starvation. 

It  was  the  universal  testimony  of  the  people  that  the 
Hungarians,  who  had  been  their  last  masters,  had  been  the 
most  cruel.  Next  had  come  the  Germans.  The  Austrian 
officers  were  little  better,  but  the  men  were  for  the  most 
part  more  considerate,  and  when  coming  to  rob  the  people 
would  generally  apologize,  saying  they  knew  the  order  was 
brutal  but  they  had  no  choice  but  to  obey. 

And  so  Italy,  with  her  resources  already  strained  almost 
to  the  breaking  point,  found  herself  confronted  with  the 
task  not  only  of  restoring  the  devastated  homes  but  also  of 
caring  for  these  destitute  people,  numbering  about  a  mil- 
lion, who,  because  the  winter  was  at  hand  and  the  next 
harvest  far  away,  would  for  many  months  be  unable  to 
provide  for  themselves.  In  this  emergency  lay  another 
big  opportunity  for  the  Red  Cross,  and  it  made  the  most  of 
it.  In  anticipation  of  a  victorious  offensive,  the  Red 
Cross  warehouses  near  the  front  had  been  well  stocked  with 
food  and  clothing.  As  soon  as  the  battle  began  personnel 
was  withdraA\Ti  from  other  activities  and  concentrated  at 
the  front.  All  of  the  food  not  required  for  the  immediate 
use  of  the  various  Red  Cross  institutions  was  hurried 
north.  Preparations  could  be  made  on  a  large  scale  for  it 
was  known  that  great  quantities  of  additional  food  supplies 
were  on  the  way  from  America,  most  of  which  could  be 
diverted  to  the  new  need. 

When  the  advance  began  the  Red  Cross  was  ready,  and  it 
followed  the  army  so  promptly  that  often  the  day  after  the 
enemy  evacuated  the  town  it  was  there  with  its  camions, 
ready  to  begin  its  work  of  relief.  In  the  much-battered 
town  of  Conegliano  the  people  who  were  living  in  the 
ruins  were  gathered  in  the  church  the  day  after  the  enemy 


194         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

left  —  it  was  All  Saints'  day  —  to  give  thanks  for  their 
liberation.  The  bombs  had  torn  the  roof  from  the  chapel 
where  most  of  them  were  assembled,  but  -the  image  of  the 
Virgin  was  intact  and  that  sufficed.  And  when  Don 
Giuseppe,  the  priest,  announced  at  mass  the  arrival  of  the 
Red  Cross,  and  the  relief  that  was  to  be  given  at  once,  it 
seemed  to  these  people  a  direct  answer  to  their  prayers, 
and,  weeping  with  joy,  they  came  out  to  thank  and  bless 
the  Red  Cross  through  its  representatives. 

How  the  news  of  the  work  of  the  Red  Cross  had  pene- 
trated the  Austrian  lines  was  shown  by  an  incident  reported 
by  the  priest  of  Oderzo.  The  people  left  in  this  little 
town  had  gathered  in  the  public  square  and,  forgetting  the 
ruins  that  surrounded  them  and  the  hunger  that  gnawed 
their  stomachs,  were  rejoicing  over  their  liberation,  when 
one  man  in  the  crowd  grumbled :  "  It's  all  very  well  to  be 
free,  but  we  have  nothing  to  eat."  Whereupon  a  woman 
standing  by  replied:  "No  matter!  Soon  the  Americans 
will  be  here  to  help  us."  And  when  the  next  day  the  Red 
Cross  arrived  with  its  camions  of  food,  ready  to  open  a 
center  of  distribution,  she  exclaimed  exultingly,  "  I  told 
you  they  would  come,  and  here  they  are !  " 

Other  centers  were  immediately  established  at  Vittorio, 
Sacile,  Pordenone,  Udine,  and  Belluno.  The  center  at 
Belluno  was  closed  after  a  fortnight  on  account  of  the  diffi- 
culty of  transporting  supplies  over  the  impassable  roads. 
But  the  others  were  continued  until  the  end  of  March. 
From  each  of  these  centers  all  the  surrounding  communities 
were  reached  by  special  camion  service  until  practically  the 
whole  of  the  provinces  of  Veneto  and  Friuli  had  been 
covered.  A  special  warehouse  was  opened  in  an  old  con- 
vent in  Treviso,  which  was  made  a  separate  district,  with 
its  own  delegate,  charged  with  the  responsibility  of  receiv- 
ing and  distributing  supplies  which  were  soon  arriving  by 
the  trainload,  and  keeping  his  fleet  of  forty  camions  on  the 
move  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  different  centers. 

The   Red    Cross    never   gave    indiscriminately.     After 


THE  BATTLE  OF  VITTORIO  VENETO  195 

reaching  a  town,  with  the  aid  of  the  mayor,  the  priest,  the 
doctor,  or  others  in  a  position  to  know,  lists  were  made  of 
all  the  families,  and  each  was  provided  with  a  card  giving 
all  the  necessary  information.  Supplies  were  given  only 
upon  the  presentation  of  this  card,  which  was  stamped 
each  time  food  and  clothing  were  given,  a  method  which 
prevented  duplication  and  insured  fair  distribution.  So 
successful  was  this  arrangement  that  the  local  authorities, 
when  supplies  were  received  from  other  sources,  would  not 
infrequently  ask  the  Red  Cross  to  undertake  their  distribu- 
tion. Dispensaries  were  established  in  nearly  every  cen- 
ter, and  visiting  nurses  and  social  workers  made  house  to 
house  visits,  checking  up  the  lists,  caring  for  the  sick,  and 
issuing  to  the  most  needy  orders  on  the  Red  Cross  ware- 
house for  articles  that  they  specially  required,  Food 
stuffs  were  in  many  cases  supplied  to  local  communities  to 
enable  them  to  reopen  public  soup  kitchens,  where  the  poor 
could  obtain  nourishing  soup  and  bread  free,  the  less  poor 
for  a  nominal  charge.  Food  and  clothing  were  furnished 
to  struggling  orphanages,  convents  and  other  institutions 
that  had  bravely  withstood  the  ravages  of  the  enemy  occu- 
pation. And  large  quantities  of  medical  and  surgical  sup- 
plies, bedding,  furniture,  and  other  necessities  were  pro- 
vided for  the  hospitals  that  had  been  left  utterly  bare  by 
the  fleeing  Austrians.  As  the  situation  began  to  improve, 
and  stores  were  opened  and  government  canteens  estab- 
lished, the  number  of  persons  in  the  Red  Cross  lists  was 
reduced,  and  this  made  it  possible  to  take  better  care  of 
the  children,  the  sick,  and  the  most  needy. 

One  day  an  Italian  and  his  wife  arrived  at  the  Red  Cross 
offices  in  Padua  to  ask  for  relief.  He  had  been  a  soldier 
in  the  Italian  army,  and  his  family  had  been  left  behind 
at  the  time  of  the  invasion  in  a  little  mountain  town  in 
the  province  of  Cadore.  Returning  home  after  the  armis- 
tice he  found  them  in  utter  destitution.  He  remembered 
the  benefits  he  had  received  from  the  Red  Cross  as  a  sol- 
dier, recalled  its  generosity  and  friendliness,  and  decided 


196         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

to  appeal  to  it.  He  knew  there  was  a  Red  Cross  center  at 
Padua,  and  so  he  and  his  wife  set  out,  dragging  a  large 
hand-cart,  walking  four  days  and  nights  before  reaching 
their  destination,  passing  on  their  way  through  the  city  of 
Vittorio  by  night  without  discovering  that  the  Red  Cross 
was  established  there.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that 
their  faith  in  the  Red  Cross  was  richly  rewarded,  and  that 
they  were  started  on  the  return  journey  with  a  heavy  load. 
As  a  result  of  this  experience,  and  of  reports  that  had 
begun  to  come  in  from  the  mountain  towns,  where  the  Red 
Cross  had  not  yet  penetrated,  it  was  decided  to  establish  a 
center  at  Auronzo,  a  beautiful  town  in  the  heart  of  the 
Dolomites.  Fifteen  camions  were  sent  up,  laden  with 
food,  soon  to  be  followed  by  as  many  more,  and  from  this 
center  all  the  surrounding  hamlets  were  reached.  The 
people  in  the  mountains  had,  on  the  whole,  fared  better 
during  the  invasion  than  the  people  on  the  plains,  but  the 
inaccessibility  of  the  towns,  the  railroads  having  been  de- 
stroyed, made  government  relief  somewhat  precarious,  and 
there  was  a  great  deal  of  suffering,  particularly  among  the 
poor.  Milk  and  fats  were  here,  as  elsewhere  in  the  in- 
vaded territory,  almost  unknown  —  necessary  articles  of 
diet  of  which  there  was  a  great  scarcity  throughout  Italy, 
but  with  which  the  Red  Cross  was  at  this  time  fortunately 
well  supplied. 

A  new  phase  of  the  Red  Cross  relief  work  began  when 
the  people  who  occupied  the  towns  along  the  old  battle 
line  on  the  Piave,  who  had  been  withdrawn  to  the  interior 
during  the  fighting,  began  to  return  to  their  ruined  homes. 
Their  evident  joy  in  getting  home,  although  "  home " 
meant  in  nearly  every  case  a  heap  of  rubbish  where  it  was 
all  but  impossible  to  improvise  even  a  temporary  shelter 
from  the  rain,  was  hard  to  comprehend.  There  were  no 
stores,  no  postoffice,  for  some  time  not  even  a  semblance  of 
city  government,  and  no  means  of  earning  a  livelihood. 
The  Italian  Government  did  what  it  could  to  help  these 
people  to  re-establish  themselves,  but  there  were  scores  of 


"  Home." 


THE  BATTLE  OF  VITTORIO  VENETO  197 

ruined  towns  all  calling  for  immediate  relief,  and  the  most 
that  it  could  do  was  to  provide  for  the  barest  necessities. 

There  were  2700,  out  of  a  population  of  7000,  who 
had  returned  to  the  ruined  town  of  Valdobbiadene  when 
the  Red  Cross  arrived  and  established  a  center  of  distribu- 
tion. This  town,  before  the  war  the  seat  of  a  thriving 
silk  industry,  surrounded  by  prosperous  farms  and  vine- 
yards, is  situated  on  a  hill  commanding  a  superb  view  of 
the  Grappa  and  of  the  valley  of  the  Piave.  Not  a  build- 
ing had  been  left  intact.  Four  hundred  children  were 
among  the  returned  refugees,  and  five  kindly  Sisters  had 
opened  a  school  for  them  in  the  ruins  of  what  had  once 
been  a  beautiful  convent.  There  were  three  rooms  that 
could  be  used,  and  here  the  children  were  taught  in  relays, 
those  not  in  the  classrooms  spending  their  time  playing 
among  the  ruins,  while  awaiting  their  turn.  The  sole 
equipment  of  the  school  consisted  of  some  benches  and  a 
shell-cracked  blackboard  on  which  the  Sisters  wrote  the 
daily  lesson  with  pieces  of  plaster.  The  Eed  Cross  sup- 
plied books,  pencils,  crayons,  and  other  necessary  school 
furniture;  gave  all  the  children  clothing,  and  provided 
them  with  milk  and  a  hot  meal  every  day  from  the  kitchen 
that  was  soon  running.  Xurses  were  sent  up  by  the  Red 
Cross,  and  two  barrack  hospitals  were  immediately  built 
and  put  in  charge  of  an  Italian  army  doctor,  a  native  of 
the  place,  a  splendid  fellow,  who  was  universally  loved  by 
the  people  and  who  worked  day  and  night  with  tireless 
energy  caring  for  the  sick  in  the  town  and  in  the  surround- 
ing country. 

The  worst  conditions  were  found  to  exist  in  the  ruined 
towns  on  the  lower  Piave.  The  marsh-lands  here  had  not 
been  drained  for  a  year ;  nearly  all  the  people  were  suf- 
fering from  malaria,  and  they  had  been  hard  hit  by  the 
influenza  epidemic.  A  Red  Cross  worker,  after  discov- 
ering Torre  di  Mosto,  one  of  the  most  sorely  stricken 
towns  in  this  district,  wrote :  ^'  You  cannot  imagine  the 
desolation  and  abandonment  of  this  place.     I  shall  always 


198         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

be  haunted  hj  the  picture  of  these  sick,  starving  creatures 
crawling  around,  poking  at  the  ruins, —  sunken-eyed,  blue- 
lipped  children,  and  haggard,  desperate  women.  The  peo- 
ple have  been  receiving  a  small  supply  of  flour  or  meal 
from  the  government  distribution  in  the  commune  on 
which  this  town  depends.  A  few  have  succeeded  in  baking 
this  into  bread ;  but  it  is  almost  impossible  to  get  fuel  and 
many  are  eating  it  raw." 

So  the  Red  Cross  came  to  Torre  di  Mosto,  took  over  the 
town  hall,  the  one  building  left  that  was  in  fairly  good 
condition,  fitted  up  a  small  hospital,  and  started  a  dispen- 
sary and  clinic,  with  an  Italian  medical  officer  in  charge, 
that  gave  treatment  to  as  many  as  one  hundred  and  fifty 
patients  a  day.  An  old  Austrian  camp  kitchen  found  in 
an  adjoining  shed  was  impressed  into  service,  and  the  Red 
Cross  was  soon  distributing  five  hundred  portions  of  soup 
and  as  many  of  milk  a  day.  A  small  laboratory  was 
opened  where  women  were  employed  converting  surplus 
hospital  garments  and  surgical  dressings  into  children's 
clothes.  Clothing  and  canned  and  uncooked  food  were  dis- 
tributed weekly  to  people  living  at  a  distance  from  the  cen- 
ter. Meanwhile  Red  Cross  nurses  went  about  caring  for 
the  sick,  investigating  the  needs  of  the  people,  and  meeting 
these  as  far  as  it  was  possible  to  do  so,  giving  advice,  sup- 
plying disinfectants,  and  keeping  infectious  diseases  from 
spreading. 

The  Red  Cross  went  to  the  little  town  of  Calvecchia, 
found  a  house  in  partial  ruins,  promptly  repaired  it  with 
the  aid  of  some  soldiers,  and  established  an  asilo  where 
one  hundred  and  fifty  children  were  cared  for ;  and  set  up 
a  soup  kitchen  and  began  the  distribution  of  food.  It  then 
opened  a  workroom  where  twenty  women  worked  daily 
under  the  supervision  of  a  nun  making  pillows,  mattresses, 
sheets  and  clothing,  and  remaking  articles  that  had  been 
sent  from  America  to  meet  the  existing  needs. 

Then  the  Red  Cross  went  to  San  Dona  di  Piave,  a  com- 
mune of  16,000,  widely  scattered  in  four  "  fractions.'" 


THE  BATTLE  OF  VITTORIO  VENETO  199 

!N^othing  could  exceed  the  chaos  and  desolation  of  this 
place.  There  was  not  even  a  shelter  for  the  Red  Cross 
kitchen  until  one  had  been  built.  An  enrollment  was 
promptly  made  of  all  the  people,  and  three  kitchens  and 
milk  centers  established,  that  systematically  distributed 
food,  so  that  all  received  assistance  at  least  twice  a  week. 
Plans  were  at  once  made  for  an  asilo  to  care  for  the 
children,  and  three  barrack  hospitals  were  erected  and 
operated. 

The  good  effects  of  the  Red  Cross  relief  were  everywhere 
immediately  evident.  The  people  in  general  were  intel- 
ligent and  self-respecting  and  the  probability  that,  if  given 
half  a  chance,  they  would  speedily  return  to  normal  ways 
of  living  made  anything  that  could  be  done  toward  help- 
ing them,  and  tiding  them  over  the  hard  winter  months, 
seem  worth  while.  From  all  of  these  centers  relief  was  ex- 
tended to  the  surrounding  towns.  And  in  many  of  the 
ruined  towns  where  it  was  impossible  to  give  continued 
assistance  the  Red  Cross  entered  with  the  returning  ref- 
ugees and  gave  intensive  relief  during  the  first  and  hardest 
days  of  re-occupation.  A  well  known  Italian  writer,  in  an 
article  published  in  a  leading  daily,  gives  the  following 
pen  picture  of  this  phase  of  Red  Cross  work.  After  speak- 
ing of  the  prompt  and  varied  relief  given  by  the  Red  Cross 
and  its  perfect  adaptation  to  the  needs  of  the  people,  due 
to  its  being  based  u«pon  first  hand  knowledge  of  the 
"  humble,  pedestrian,  muddy  but  tangible  facts,"  he 
continues : 

"  The  American  Red  Cross  arrives  with  its  camions  in 
a  ruined  village.  From  a  cave  in  a  trench,  from  the  cellar 
of  a  ruined  house,  from  a  hut  made  with  four  rotten  poles 
and  a  torn  blanket  nailed  against  the  apse  of  a  destroyed 
church,  the  men,  women,  and  children  come  out. 

"  '  How  many  families  are  you  ? '  asks  in  her  rude 
Italian  a  brave,  smiling  young  girl  in  browTi  leather  boots 
and  a  gray  '  Arditi '  sweater.  Another  girl  has  opened  a 
box,  taken  out  a  typewriter  and  turning  the  box  over, 


200         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

placed  the  machine  upon  it.  She  also  smiles.  The  people 
give  their  names;  she  writes  the  tickets. 

"  '  What  do  you  need  ? ' 

"  '  Boots  '  —  '  Pruning  knives '  —  '  Salt '  —'  Spades ' 
—  '  Quinine  '  —  '  Blankets  '  —  '  Meat '  —  '  Huts '  — 
'  Milk  '  —  ^  A  sewing  machine.' 

"  '  We  can't  give  pruning  knives  or  spades,  or  shovels. 
Here  is  the  salt  and  the  quinine.  Here  are  fifteen  blan- 
kets.    The  rest  we  will  send  in  five  days.     Cans  of  meat 

and  milk  you  can  have  on  Mondays  and  Fridays  at , 

two  miles  from  here,  by  producing  these  tickets.  The 
sewing  machine  we  will  send  in  eight  days.' 

"  Two  hours  later,  the  census  finished  and  the  distribu- 
tion made,  after  the  lists  had  been  checked  up  by  a  visit 
to  the  huts,  the  camion  leaves.  But  five  days  later  the 
blankets  arrive,  eight  days  later,  the  sewing  machine. 
Little  things,  perhaps,  in  comparison  to  the  task  of  the 
government,  but  useful,  and  repeated  in  two  or  three 
hundred  villages.  The  communal  secretary  was  right 
when  he  commended  the  example  of  the  American  Red 
Cross,  for  its  work  has  three  qualities:  (1)  It  is  founded 
on  facts  seen  and  touched;  (2)  it  does  not  promise  more 
than  it  can  give;  (3)  it  really  gives  what  and  in  the 
measure  it  has  promised.  That  is  why  everybody  believes 
in  it." 

In  all,  half  a  million  people  were  under  the  care  of 
the  Eed  Cross  in  the  invaded  districts  during  the  winter 
after  the  armistice;  and  a  hundred  thousand  garments 
were  distributed.  When  this  work  was  brought  to  a 
close,  toward  the  end  of  March,  there  was  still  a  large 
quantity  of  supplies  of  all  sorts  in  the  Eed  Cross  ware- 
house at  Treviso,  and  these  were  turned  over  to  an 
Italian  committee  that  continued  the  work  of  relief  in  the 
devastated  area  until  the  bounty  of  nature  began  once 
more  to  provide  for  the  needs  of  the  people. 

The  men  and  women  who  carried  on  the  work  of  the 
Eed  Cross  in  the  liberated  district,  often  under  most  primi- 


THE  BATTLE  OF  VITTORIO  VENETO  201 

tive  living  conditions,  had  a  hard  and  exacting  task.  But 
all  of  the  reports  that  they  sent  in  to  headquarters  echo 
the  sentiment  thus  expressed  in  one  of  them:  "I  am 
working  seventeen  hours  a  day,  and  never  was  so  happy. 
Every  hour  is  packed  with  interest.  We  are  saving  lives 
by  the  hundred.  And  how  grateful  every  one  is.  I  am 
sure  that  if  the  people  in  America  could  only  see  what  their 
dollars  are  doing  now  they  would  be  well  pleased."  And 
there  is  another  note  that  runs  through  the  reports,  best 
described  by  quoting  again :  "  The  faults  of  the  Italians  are 
on  the  surface;  every  one  can  see  them.  But  we  are  dis- 
covering the  sterling  virtues  underneath.  I  shall  never 
misunderstand  these  people  again.  I  am  filled  with  admir- 
ation for  their  wonderful  patience  and  courage,  their  cheer- 
fulness in  facing  a  truly  desperate  situation,  and  the  dogged 
determination  with  which  they  tackle  the  difficult  problems 
that  confront  them." 

The  work  of  the  Bed  Cross  in  the  Trentino  differed 
from  that  in  the  devastated  area  east  of  the  Piave,  owing 
to  the  different  conditions,  but  was  no  less  comprehensive. 
Here,  too,  it  followed  in  the  wake  of  the  advancing  army, 
and  began  the  distribution  of  food  in  the  city  of  Trent 
immediately  after  it  was  captured.  Before  many  days, 
however,  the  railroad  to  Italy  was  repaired,  and  the  most 
pressing  needs  could  be  met  by  the  government.  So  the 
Red  Cross  moved  on  north  to  Bolzano,  to  care  for  the 
returning  Italian  prisoners  who  were  pouring  in  by  this 
route,  and  were  in  a  condition  scarcely  less  desperate  than 
that  of  the  prisoners  returning  through  Trieste  and  by  the 
Veneto.  A  kitchen  was  set  up  between  the  tracks  at  the 
station,  from  which  they  all  were  served  on  the  arrival 
of  the  trains.  After  a  few  weeks  this  emergency  passed, 
and  the  Red  Cross  returned  to  Trent,  where  a  new  prob- 
lem had  arisen. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  war  the  Austrians  had  with- 
drawn, and  interned  in  German  Austria,  all  of  the  people 
from  the  towns  south  of  Trent  that  were  near  the  fighting 


202         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

zone,  who  had  not  fled  for  refuge  to  Italy,  and  all  the  peo- 
ple from  the  city  of  Trent  who  could  not  show  that  they 
possessed  the  means  to  care  for  themselves  for  six  months, 
a  provision  often  used  as  a  pretext  for  banishing  citizens 
for  political  reasons.  There  were  150,000  of  these  refu- 
gees or  internati.  As  the  trains  that  bore  them  north 
reached  the  town  of  Bolzano  they  were  stopped,  the  people 
ordered  to  descend,  and  all  who  seemed  at  all  able- 
bodied  —  old  men,  women,  and  girls  —  were  forced  into 
involuntary  servitude,  or  worse.  Many  of  them  never 
came  back.  These  exiles  were  now  returning  in  large 
numbers.  An  excellent  refugee  committee  of  Trent  was 
receiving  and  caring  for  them,  and  distributing  them,  as 
it  was  possible  to  do  so,  to  their  own  towns.  Every  morn- 
ing a  caravan  of  Red  Cross  camions  followed  these  people 
to  their  destination,  and  distributed  food,  clothing,  and  in 
many  cases  beds  and  bedding,  on  presentation  of  the 
cards  supplied  by  the  refugee  committee.  Eeturning  late 
to  Trent  our  representatives  would  work  far  into  the  night 
making  preparations  for  the  distribution  that  was  to  be 
made  on  the  following  day.  So  thoroughly  was  this  work 
done  that  literally  every  one  of  the  repatriates  was 
directly  or  indirectly  the  recipient  of  Red  Cross  aid. 
This  statement  is  made  on  the  testimony  of  the  efficient 
vice-president  of  the  refugee  committee  of  Trent,  Dalla 
Brida,  an  energetic  young  priest,  with  whom  the  Red 
Cross  worked  in  close  cooperation,  whose  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  conditions  enabled  him  to  speak  with  authority. 
When  the  Red  Cross  withdrew  from  the  Trentino,  toward 
the  end  of  March,  a  large  quantity  of  supplies  was  turned 
over  to  the  local  refugee  committee  to  enable  it  to  continue 
the  work  of  relief  with  the  destitute  repatriates. 


CHAPTER  XI 

Getting  Out  —  Fighting  Tuberculosis  —  Conclusion 

All  of  its  enterprises  for  civilian  relief  carried  on 
during  the  war  had  been  undertaken  by  the  American  Red 
Cross  with  the  express  understanding  that  its  obligations 
should  cease  three  months  after  the  war  was  over,  and  that 
it  was  to  be  the  judge  as  to  when  the  war  ended.  Accord- 
ingly, after  the  armistice,  all  delegates  were  instructed  to 
begin  at  once  to  make  arrangements  for  bringing  the  work 
in  their  districts  to  a  close.  By  the  first  of  March,  1919, 
the  Red  Cross  had  withdrawn  from  all  its  war-time  activ- 
ities for  civilian  relief,  the  district  centers  had  been  closed, 
and  the  disbanding  of  the  organization  was  well  under 
way.  In  most  cases,  however,  better  than  its  word,  it  had 
left  with  local  committees  the  material  necessary  to  con- 
tinue until  the  following  summer  the  activities  that  it  had 
started. 

A  volume  might  be  filled  with  the  expressions  of  appre- 
ciation, oral  and  written,  received  from  Italians  of  all 
walks  and  conditions  of  life,  from  the  King,  who,  speaking 
in  his  own  name  and  in  the  name  of  the  army  and  of  the 
people,  voiced  admiration  and  gratitude  for  the  work  of 
the  American  Red  Cross  that  had  "  made  secure  and  im- 
perishable the  foundations  of  cordial  and  trusting  friend- 
ship between  the  two  countries,"  down  to  the  peasant 
mother  invoking  the  blessing  of  Heaven  on  America  for 
saving  the  life  of  her  child ;  from  the  Premier,  from  may- 
ors, prefects,  and  other  dignitaries,  giving  ofiicial  acknowl- 
edgment of  the  effective  work  of  relief,  down  to  the  small 
child  in  the  asilo  touchingly  trying  to  express  the  fullness 
of  her  heart;  from  the  soldier  at  the  front  writing  of  his 

203 


204         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

gratitude  for  the  load  that  had  been  lifted  from  his  mind 
by  the  knowledge  that  his  loved  ones  were  being  cared 
for  in  his  absence ;  from  the  distinguished  Roman  prelate 
who  declared  with  enthusiasm  that  the  work  of  the  Red 
Cross  had  been  a  revelation,  showing  that  a  vast  humanita- 
rian work  could  be  accomplished  with  entire  detachment 
from  either  religious  or  political  influence,  and  with  even- 
handed  justice  to  all,  who  said  that  people  had  often  come 
to  him  asking  him  to  intercede  with  the  Red  Cross  in  their 
behalf  or  in  behalf  of  some  project  in  which  they  were  in- 
terested, and  that  he  had  always  replied :  "  Go  to  the 
Red  Cross  and  present  your  case.  If  your  cause  deserves 
support  you  will  get  it."  And  he  added  that  he  had  never 
known  of  one  refusal  that  was  not  justified. 

One  important  phase  of  Red  Cross  work,  the  assistance 
given  in  fighting  tuberculosis,  has  not  yet  iDeen  described. 
Its  consideration  has  been  deferred  to  this  point  because 
it  was  a  work  carried  out  after  the  war  was  over,  and  be- 
cause the  nature  of  the  work  done,  partly  determined  by 
that  fact,  was  such  as  to  make  it  a  natural  transition  from 
the  war  work  of  the  American  Red  Cross  to  its  after-war 
plans  as  these  are  to  be  carried  on  by  the  League  of  Red 
Cross  Societies. 

The  tuberculosis  unit  arrived  in  Rome  shortly  before 
the  final  victory,  with  an  organization  that  proved  larger 
than  was  required  for  the  work  that  it  was  destined  to 
accomplish.  The  influenza  epidemic  was,  however,  at  that 
time  at  its  height,  and  a  number  of  doctors  and  nurses, 
transferred  to  other  departments,  were  able  to  perform  in- 
valuable service  in  that  emergency. 

It  was  decided,  the  war  being  over,  not  to  spend  the  re- 
sources of  the  Red  Cross  in  erecting  or  subsidizing  hos- 
pitals, or  in  other  ways  caring  for  the  tubercular  victims 
of  the  war,  but  rather  to  work  with  the  Italians  in  devel- 
oping methods  for  a  systematic  and  thorough-going  attack 
upon  the  disease  itself,  thus  utilizing  the  opportunity  of- 
fered to  promote  the  advancement  of  international  cooper- 


CONCLUSION  205 

ation  in  public  health  work  generally,  and  especially  in 
fighting  contagious  diseases. 

In  order  to  lay  securely  the  foundations  for  effective 
work  a  careful  survey  was  first  made  of  all  Italy,  province 
by  province,  and  statistical  data  were  collected  covering  the 
educational  system,  school  hygiene,  child  labor,  housing 
conditions,  emigration  and  the  labor  situation,  existing  in- 
stitutions and  organizations  for  child  welfare,  for  nursing, 
and  for  the  promotion  of  public  health  work  in  tubercu- 
losis. Much  of  the  material  gathered  in  this  survey  has 
been  published  in  printed  reports,  which  should  be  of 
value  not  only  in  Italy  in  furthering  international  stand- 
ardization in  health  work,  but  also  in  America  in  handling 
the  Italian  immigrant  problem. 

As  a  result  of  this  preliminary  investigation  a  broad 
and  comprehensive  program  was  adopted  which  involved 
as  its  basic  feature  the  formation  of  provincial  committees, 
each  employing  a  full-time  executive  secretary,  and  com- 
mittees in  various  centers  in  each  province.  These  com- 
mittees were  to  complete  local  organization  for  anti-tuber- 
culosis work,  establish  dispensaries,  employ  visiting  nurses, 
and  carry  on  an  educational  campaign  for  which  the  Red 
Cross  was  to  furnish  posters,  pamphlets,  traveling  dispen- 
saries, motion  picture  machines,  films,  and  lantern  slides. 
In  accordance  with  this  plan  provincial  committees  were 
organized  in  Liguria,  Umbria,  Sardinia,  Palermo,  Gir- 
genti,  and  Alessandria,  and  more  than  a  dozen  local  com- 
mittees besides.  The  initiative  was  in  every  case  taken  by 
interested  Italians,  and  by  them  the  work  was  carried  on 
and  the  funds  raised  for  its  continuance.  The  American 
Red  Cross  gave  financial  assistance  at  the  start  and  con- 
tributed small  subsidies  for  the  first  few  months  of  opera- 
tion. For  the  rest,  it  disappeared  as  much  as  possible  into 
the  background,  acting  as  advisor  and  consulting  engineer 
in  health  work,  contributing  educational  material  and  gen- 
erally putting  at  the  disposal  of  the  committees  the  results 
of  experience  gained  in  similar  work  in  America. 


209         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

Since  the  most  important  factor  in  public  health  work 
of  any  sort  is  the  visiting  nurse,  schools  were  established 
in  Rome,  under  the  auspices  of  a  committee  of  the  IN'ational 
Federation  of  Women's  Clubs,  and  at  Genoa,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  provincial  Anti-tuberculosis  League  of  Lig- 
uria,  where  in  two  four-month  courses  groups  of  Italian 
women,  specially  selected  because  of  their  ability  and  their 
previous  nursing  experience,  were  given  intensive  training 
in  district  nursing  by  a  corps  of  American  women  who 
were  experts  in  this  field. 

The  Red  Cross  also  gave  assistance  in  certain  closely 
correlated  fields  of  work.  In  cooperation  with  the  national 
association  of  men  engaged  in  medical  inspection  work  in 
the  public  schools  it  worked  out  a  general  program,  pre- 
pared pamphlets  and  booklets  of  instruction  for  teachers, 
and  made  arrangements  with  the  Minister  of  Education 
whereby  government  support  was  assured  in  the  plans  for 
the  rapid  extension  of  this  work  to  all  the  schools  of 
Italy.  Local  and  national  groups  interested  in  child  wel- 
fare work  were  through  charts  and  diagrams  made  ac- 
quainted with  the  methods  in  use  in  America.  A  model 
program  was  prepared  and  adopted  by  the  child  welfare 
committee  of  IS'aples  which  was  aided  by  the  Red  Cross 
with  supplies  and  a  subsidy;  and  assistance  was  given  to 
leading  pediatricians  and  obstetricians  who  were  anxious 
to  form  an  association  to  start  a  national  campaign  for 
child  welfare. 

There  had  been  at  all  times  in  the  work  of  the  Italian 
Commission  of  the  American  Red  Cross  close  cooperation 
with  Italians,  and  in  many  cases  the  Red  Cross  had  ex- 
tended relief  through  Italian  organizations.  What  is 
unique  in  the  tuberculosis  work  is  that  from  first  to  last, 
in  its  inception  and  in  its  maintenance,  it  was  constructive 
work  in  the  hands  of  the  Italians,  the  Red  Cross  stimu- 
lating interest,  helping  in  the  organization,  advising,  aiding 
and  backing  the  Italian  committees  in  every  way  possible. 
It  is  for  this  reason  that  this  last  phase  of  Red  Cross  activ- 


CONCLUSION  207 

itj  in  Italy  forms  a  natural  transition  from  emergency  war 
work  to  the  persistent  problems  of  sickness  and  suffering 
that  every  nation  must  indeed  solve  for  itself,  but  that 
cannot  adequately  be  dealt  with  without  that  solidarity  of 
effort  that  will  come  through  the  League  of  Red  Cross 
Societies. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  League  to  stimulate  in  each 
country  the  interest  in  Red  Cross  work  and  to  aid  in  the 
building  up  of  a  strong  democratic  Red  Cross  organization, 
with  a  large  popular  membership,  so  that  it  may  in  fact 
be  the  expression  of  the  collective  heart  of  the  nation.  The 
representatives  of  the  various  Red  Cross  organizations, 
meeting  in  common  council  at  the  seat  of  the  League,  will 
then  constitute  a  great  clearing  house  for  the  exchange  of 
ideas,  so  that  the  experience  of  each  nation  may  become  at 
once  the  common  gain  of  all,  thus  establishing  effective 
international  cooperation  in  public  health  and  social  wel- 
fare work.  Moreover,  through  the  League,  the  civilized 
world  will  be  united  for  joint  effort  in  dealing  with  those 
problems  that  know  no  national  boundaries  but  are  the 
common  task  of  humanity. 

But  the  aim  of  the  League  looks  much  further  than  this. 
Just  as  the  spirit  of  compassion  in  individuals  is  the  belief 
in  equality  kindled  and  made  effective  by  emotion,  so,  be- 
tween nations,  the  same  spirit  may  be  counted  upon  to  make 
alive  and  effective  that  belief  in  a  deeper  underlying 
equality  of  civilized  nations  which  better  understanding 
brings  about,  a  belief  that  must  prevail  if  there  is  to  be 
any  hope  of  enduring  peace.  Wlien  men  or  nations  meet 
each  other  with  suspicion  and  distrust  it  is  generally  in 
large  part  due  to  misunderstanding ;  the  result  is  apt  to  be 
jealousy  and  hate;  and  the  logical  end  of  hate  is  war. 
If  wars  are  to  cease,  nations  must  meet,  not  with  the  old 
superiorities  and  condescensions,  the  old  suspicions  and 
jealousies,  but  in  the  spirit  of  equality  and  friendship, 
based  upon  mutual  understanding  and  therefore  carrying 
with  it  confidence  and  trust.     In  the  measure  that  the 


208         THE  AMERICAN  RED  CROSS  IN  ITALY 

League  of  Eed  Cross  Societies  succeeds  in  hastening  this 
happy  consummation,  will  it  have  fulfilled  its  highest 
purpose. 

As  one  looks  back  upon  the  work  of  the  American  Red 
Cross  in  Italy,  one  may  well  take  pride  in  its  great  accom- 
plishment. But  what  is  of  the  most  value  in  that  work  is 
the  contribution  made  through  it  to  this  greater  cause  of 
permanent  peace.  For  what  the  Red  Cross  has  done  to 
strengthen  the  bonds  of  friendship  between  our  two  nations 
through  a  better  mutual  understanding,  carrying  with  it 
confidence  and  trust,  is  its  greatest,  its  enduring  achieve- 
ment. 


APPEKDIX  I 

Total  Expenditures  of  the  American  Eed  Cross  Commission 
TO  Italy  from  November,  1917  to  June  30,  1919 

[Statement  supplied  by  Nelson  Mills.] 

From  November,  1917,  to  June  30,  1919,  tbe  total  expenses  of 
the  American  Red  Cross  '  mmission  to  Italy  were.  Lire  114,- 
880,066.20,  divided  as  follows : 

Civil  Affairs    74,332,817.00  64.71  per  cent 

Military  Affairs  11,719,569.60  10.20 

Medical   Affairs    15,187,618.02  13.22 

Tuberculosis  Division    3,486,066.76  3.03 

Administrative   Bureau    8,854,823.22  7.71 

Restricted  Funds   5,520.77       

MiscellaneouB    1,293,650.83  1.13 

114,880,066.20        lOOperoen* 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  various  percentages  against  the 
above  expenditures,  the  total  Administrative  Biireau  expense 
being  only  7.71%  of  the  total. 

Under  Department  of  Civil  Affairs,  we  operated  appropria- 
tions for  relief  of  refugees,  for  canteen  service,  for  children's 
work,  for  relief  of  Italian  soldiers'  families,  for  ouvroirs  and 
section  of  home  service.  The  various  expenditures  and  per- 
centages imder  department  of  Civil  Affairs  to  June  30,  1919,  be- 
ing as  follows : 

Administration    988,085.65  1.33  per  cent 

Relief  of   refugees 24,611,220.79  33.11 

Canteen   Service    7,379,430.21  9.93 

Children's  Work  12,841,373.16  17.27 

Relief  of  Italian  Soldiers'  Families.  .  .  16,456,948.67  22.14 

Contingent  Relief  Fimd 60,033.61  .08 

Ottvrotr  Dept 11,822,157.77  15.91 

Home    Service    173,567.14  .23 


74,332,817.00        100  per  cent 

Under  the  Department  of  Military  Affairs  we  operated  appro- 
priations for  the  Relief  of  Italian  Soldiers  at  the  Front,  Section 
of  Ambulance  Service,  Section  of  Canteens  and  Rest  Houses 
and  Section  of  American  Soldiers  at  the  Front.     The  total  ex- 

209 


210  APPENDICES 

penditures  of  these  various  appropriations  with  percentages  to 
June  30,  1919,  being  as  follows : 

Administration    199,102.26  1.70  per  cent 

Italian  Soldiers  at  Front 2,836,705.21  24.20 

Ambulance   Service    3,943,890.81  33.65 

Canteen  and  Rest  Houses 4,287,672.93  36.59 

American  Soldiers  at  the  Front 452,198.39  3.86 


11,719.569.60        100  per  cent 

Under  our  Department  of  Medical  Affairs  we  operated  four 
appropriations,  one  for  surgical  dressings,  one  for  section  of  hos- 
pital service,  one  for  administration  and  one  for  Nurses'  Home 
at  Milan,  The  various  expenses  with  percentages  being  as  fol- 
lows : 

Surgical  Dressings  Service 1,189,898.56  7.83  per  cent 

Hospital    Service    13,671,754.25  90.02 

Administration    253,013.54  1.67 

Nurses'  Home,  Milan 72,951.67  .48 


15,187,618.02        100  per  cent 

Our  Department  of  Ttiberculosis  was  divided  into  seven  sec- 
tions, the  total  expenditures  under  each  section  to  June  30, 1919, 
being  as  follows : 

Administration    342,895.41  9.84  per  cent 

Medical   Service    238,437.85  6.84 

Public   Health   Nursing 378,896.34  10.87 

Public  Health  Education 596,207.23  17.10 

Hospital  Relief 407,007.51  11.67 

Traveling  Dispensaries   17,815.97  .51 

Provincial  Organization   1,504,806.45  43.17 


3,486,066.76        100  per  cent 

Our  Department  of  Administration  operated  seven  sections. 
The  various  expenditures  with  percentages  imder  each  to  June 
30,  1919,  being  as  follows : 

Section  of  Transportation 3,086,162.95  34.85  per  cent 

"         "    Purchases    127,840.79  1.44 

"    Stores     2,563,351.25  28.95 

"         "    Finance  and  Accounts 691,157.45  7.81 

"         "    Secretary  General   1,766,129.77  19.95 

"    Public   Information    581,522.61  6.57 

Traveling   Expenses   Permanent   Com- 
mission to  Italy 38,658.40  .43 


8,854,823.22        100  per  cent 


APPENDICES  211 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that,  taking  our  total  expenditures  to 
June  30,  1919,  the  percentages  are  as  follows: 

Equipment     6.13  per  cent 

Merchandise  for  Relief 60.65 

Salaries  and  Wages 8.03 

Operating  Expenses    8.55 

Donations    16.64 


100  per  cent 

Adding  together  Merchandise  for  Relief  and  Donations  to 
other  organizations  gives  us  77.29%  of  our  expenses  given  in 
actual  direct  relief  in  Italy.  Also  the  fact  must  be  taken 
into  consideration  that,  included  in  the  items  of  Salaries  and 
Wages,  8.03%,  are  the  maintenance  and  salary  charges  of  the 
doctors,  ambulance  drivers,  nurses,  social  workers,  etc.,  whose 
services  were  all  directly  devoted  to  direct  relief,  so  this  per- 
centage should  really  be  added  to  the  amount  expended  for 
actual  relief. 

In  connection  with  our  equipment  expense,  6.13%,  we  have 
already  received  25%  of  this  in  actual  cash  returns  from  sales 
of  equipment  and  the  remainder  of  the  equipment  has  been  do- 
nated to  Italian  institutions  so  that  the  percentage  of  this  should 
be  added  to  the  amount  expended  for  actual  relief. 

These  percentages  tell  a  very  complete  story  of  our  work  in 
Italy  and  from  the  standpoint  of  the  statistician  are  extremely 
valuable. 


APPENDIX  II 

Italian  version  of  the  first  and  last  verses  of  the  Star  Spangled 
Banner  made  by  Capt.  Frank  A.  Perret,  slightly  modified  in 
the  "  attempt  to  carry  forward  the  sense  to  our  present  day  and 
to  our  mission  in  the  world." 

Oh  dite  se  ognor 

Nel  rossigno  albor, 
II  simbolo  fiero  di  nostra  speranza 

Con  stellato  splendor, 

Ormai  vincitor, 
Ondeggi  sul  forte  con  balda  fidanza, 

Or  che,  al  novo  fulgor, 

Gia  la  tenebra  muor 
E  la  fede  rinasce  fra  tanto  dolor. 
Che  in  alto  quel  nostro  vessillo  stellato 


213  APPENDICES 

Sempre  sventoli  al  sol 
Su  libero  suol! 

Qualora  nel  cuor 

Col  piu  santo  amor 
Un  popolo  sogni  la  sua  libertade, 

Dal  fiero  oppressor 

Protegga  ognor 
II  nostro  vessillo  le  loro  contrade! 

Dei  nobili  ardor 

Iddio  difensor 
Ai  giusti  conservi  la  fede  nel  cor. 
E  in  alto  quel  nostro  vessillo  stellato 

Sempre  sventoli  al  sol 

Su  libero  suol ! 


APPENDIX  III 
Ameeican  Relief  Clearing  House  in  Homt 

Executive  Committer 

Lewis  Morris  Iddings,  Chairman 

John  Gray,  Vice  Chairman  and  Secretary 

George  B.  Page,  Treasurer 

and 

A.  Apolloni,  Marchese  G.  Guglielmi,  L.  WoUemborg,  Dr.  Jesse  Bene- 
dict Carter,  The  Eev.  Walter  Lowrie,  Nerval  Richardson,  H. 
Nelson  Gay,  George  W.  Wurts,  S.  A.  B.  Abbott,  Stanley  B. 
Lothrop,  Gorham  Phillips  Stevens,  Gaetano  Cagiati  and  E.  O. 
Bartl&tt. 

APPENDIX  IV 

The  Amebic  an  Red  Cross  Temporary  Commission 

August  31  to  October  2,  1917 

George  F.  Baker  Jr.  Nicholas  F.  Brady 

John  R.  Morron  Chandler  R.  Post 

Dr.  Thomas  W.  Huntington  Gorham  Phillips  Stevens 

Dr.  Victor  G.  Heiser  Ctarles  Upson  Clark 


APPENDICES  213 


APPENDIX  V 

Emeegency  Organization  of  the  American  Red 

Cross  in  Italy 
November  5  —  December  20,  1917 

(The  men  whose  names  are  printed  in  italics  later  served 
with  the  permanent  organization  of  the  American  Red  Cross 
in  Italy.) 

Carl  Taylor,  Deputy  Commissioner 

Charles  Carroll,  Aide 

Bernon  S.  Prentice,  Director  of  Administration 

A.  H.  Green,  Jr.,  General  Manager 

B.  G.  Smith,  Director,  Dept.  of  Accounts 
R.  H.  Sherman,  Director,  Dept.  of  Stores 
E.  E.  Darr,  Secretary 

Ernest  Meadows,  Publicity 

J.  Forrest  Reillv,  Assistant  Secretary 

A.  P.  Cartier 

Department  of  Military  Affairs: 
H.  B.  Stanton,  Director 
G.  W.  Beadel,  Assistant 
R.  G.  Mather,  Secretary 

B.  M.  Nester,  CTiief  Inspector 
Nicholas  R.  Rhodes 

Robertson  Williams,  Field  Delegate 

E.  B.  Wilkins 

Richard  Wallace 

Myron  C.  Nutting 

H.  W.  C.  Bowdoin 

Charles  K,  Wood,  Inspector 

Department  of  Civil  Affairs: 

Edward  Eyre  Hunt,  Director,  November  5-December  10 

Ernest  P.  Bicknell,  Director,  December  10-December  20 

E.  0.  Bartlett,  Asst.  to  Director 

W.  C.  Smallwood,  Advisor  to  Director 

Donaldson  Clark,  Assistant 

A.  J.  Akin,  Florence 

Albert  R.  Chandler,  Milan 

Hugh  Heaton,  Turin 

0.  H.  Sellenings,  Turin 

G.  F.  Laughlin,  Leghorn 

Stanley  Lothrop,  Rimini 

D.  S.  MacLaughlan,  Palermo 

T.  H.  Mason,  Naples 


214  APPENDICES 

C.  U.  Moore,  Milan 

H.  W.  Parsons 

Charles  A.  Williams,  Delegate 

Investigating  Committee  on  Refugees : 
Ernest  Bicknell 
Edward  T.  Devine 
Paul  U.  Kellogg 

Local  Committees: 

Milan  : 

North  Winship,  Chairman 

U.  J.  Bywater,  Secretary  and  Treasurer 

Genoa: 

Paul  Grosjean,  Chairman 
Paul  Allen,  Secretaiy 

American  Consuls  cooperating  with  Bed  Cross: 

B.  Harvey  Carroll,  Jr.,  Venice 

E.  F.  Dumont,  Florence 

North  Winship,  Milan 

Vice  Consul  Quincy  Roberts,  Genoa 

W.  J.  Grace,  Leghorn 

Samuel  H.  Haven,  Turin 

Robertson  Honey,  Catania 

Joseph  E.  Shank,  Palermo 

Jay  White,  Naples 

American  Belief  Committee  in  Lomhardy  Novemher,  1917; 
North  Winship,  Chairman, 

Edward  C.  Richardson 

John  F.  Stucke 

Malcolm  P.  Hooper 

William  R.  Bairnson 

Ernest  E.  Ling 

William  R.  Meadows 
Ulysses  J.  Bywater,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

Genoa  Committee  of  the  American  Bed  Cross: 

Paul   Grosjean,   Chairman 
Quincy  F.  Roberts 
A.  T.  Rosasco 
Homer  Edmiston 
Lamar  Fleming,  Jr. 
Paul  Allen,  Secretary 

American  Consuls  cooperating  with  Bed  Cross: 
B.  Harvey  Carroll,  Jr.,  Venice 
E.  F.  Dumont,  Florence 


APPENDICES 


215 


North  Winship,  Milan 

Vice  Consul  Quincy  Roberts,  Genoa 

\V.  J.  Grace,  Leghorn 

Samuel  H.  Haven,  Turin 

Robertson  Honey,  Catania 

Joseph  E.  Shank,  Palermo 

Jay  White,  Naples 


APPENDIX  VI 

AMEEicAJsr  Red  Cross  Commission"  in  Italy 
as  of  December  20,  1917 
Robert  P.  Perkins,  Commissioner 


Deputy  Commissioners 


Chester  H.  Aldrieh 
James  Byrne 
Dr.  Joseph  Collins 
Ernesto  G.  Fabbri 


Rev.  Sigourney  W.  Fay 
Samuel  L.  Fuller 
Guy  Lowell 
Thomas  L.  Robinson 
Dr.  L.  Witmer 


General  Organization 


Placid  James  Carmeci 
Sylvia  Coney 
Glyn  Davies 
John  B.  Erit 
Sophie  P.  Foote 
Raymond  L.  Hayman 
William  R.  Hereford 
Alice  McKay  Kelly  (Mrs.) 


W.  A.  Moore 
Gardner  Penniman 
Regis  H.  Post 
Julius  Roth 
Ernest  A.  Salvi 
John  DeRaismes  Storey 
Alexander  Torelli 
Edgar  I.  Williams 


Liaison  Officers 

Rome  Office 

Lt.  Col.  Adolf o  Apolloni  Maj.  Gioacchino  Laurenti 

Lieut.  Nerino  Rasponi 


Col.  Ranuccio  Marzochelli 
Capt.  Felice  Cacciapuoti 


Bologna 

Lt.  Guido  Sanguinetti 

Vicenza 

Lt.  Guglielmo  Nesi 


216  APPENDICES 

appe:n'dix  Yll 

Obganization  as  of  November  1,  1918 
Robert  P.  Perkins,  CommisBioner 

DEPARTJfENT   OF    ADMINISTRATION 

Ernesto  Fabbri,  Inspector  General 

James  Byrne,  Legal  Adviser 

Samuel  L.  Fuller,  Director  of  Administration  (Commissioner  January 

to  April,  1919) 
Herbert  Scoville,  Secretary'  General 
Nelson  Mills,   Comptroller    (Director  Finance  and   Accounts  March 

27,  1919) 
Julius  Roth,  Director  Stores  and  Transportation 
Gino  L.  Perera,  Director  Department  Purchases 
William  R.  Hereford,  Director  Department  Public  Information 
Charles  M.  Bakewell,  Department  of  Public  Information 

Clarence  S.  McKune,  Real  Estate  and  Property 

Palmer  P.  Day,  Asst.   Secretary  General    (Secretary  General   April 

15,  1919) 
Thomas  B.  Taylor,  Asst.  Secretary  General 
Norman  L.  Wills,  Jr.,  Asst.    Comptroller    (Comptroller  March   27, 

1919) 
Humbert  Erit,  Paymaster 

Gorham  Lyle  Olds,  Asst.  Department  Public  Information 
John  Howard  Lawson,  Editor  of  the  Bulletin 
John  DeR.  Storey,  Asst.  Legal  Advisor 

Department  of  Military  Affairs 

Guy  Lowell,  Director  of  Department 
Phillips  B.  Thompson,  Assistant  to  Director 
Henry  B.  Wilkins,  Assistant  to  Director 
James  Gamble,  Field  Director  Rolling  Kitchens 
Robert  W.  Bates,  Director  of  Ambulance  Service 

Section  Chefs,  Ambulance  Service: 

Section  I:  George  Utassy,  L.  G.  Hunter,  M.  D.  Detweiler,  Charles 

Waldispuhl 
Section  II:   James  P.  Gillespie 
Section  III:   F.  J.  Nash,  0.  P.  Askam 
Section  IV:   Charles  B.  Griffin,  E.  H.  Baker 
Section  V:   Howard  Kahn,  G.  F.  Voile 

Section  Sous-chefs,  Ambulance  Service: 

Section  I :   L.  G.  Hunter,  Charles  Waldispuhl,  John  K.  Cloud 

Section  II :   A.  E.  Collinson 

Section  III:  E.  J.  Welch,  J.  H.  Tedford 


APPENDICES 


217 


Section  IV:  W.  H.  George,  E.  J.  Welch 
Section  V:  G.  F.  Voile,  J.  S.  Vanderveer 

Department  of  Medical  Affairs 

Dr.  Joseph  Collins,  Director  of  Department 

Dr.  Eugene  Crockett,  Assistant  to  Director 

Dr.  Ralph  Hamill,  Assistant  to  Director 

Dr.  Charles  Riggs  Parke,  Physician  to  Red  Cross  Personnel 

Sara  E.  Shaw,  Director  of  Nurses 

Mildred  Blumenthal,  Secretary 

Department  of  Civil  Affairs 

Chester  H.  Aldrich,  Director  of  Department 

Edward  O.  Bartlett,  Asst.   Director  of  Department    (Commissioner 

April  1,  1919) 
Gertrude  H.  Springer,  General  Secretary 
Charles  F.  White,  in  charge  of  Home  Service  work. 

District  Delegates 

Avellino,  G.  P.  Centanini,  Josephine  Centanini   (Mrs.)   Co-Delegate 
-Bari,  Edward  D.  Self   (May,  1918-November,   1918);   C.  T.  Erickson 

(October,  1918-January,  1919) 
Bologna,  Nicholas  R.   Rhodes    (Dec.,   1917-Nov.   15,  1918);    William 

Sohier  Bryant    (Nov.,   igiS-Feb.,  1919) 
Calabria,  H.  W.  C.  Bowdoin 
Florence,  A.  J.  Akin 
Genoa,  Edgar  I.  Williams 
Milan,  Thomas  L.  Robinson    (Dec,   1917);   Joseph  M.  MacDonough 

(Feb.,  1918-Jan.,  1919) 
Naples,   Thomas   A.    Mason     (Nov.,    1917-Mar.,    1918);    Charles    A. 

Williams  (Nov.,  1917-Jan.,  1919) 
Padua,  Frederick  C.  Thwaits 
Palermo,  Donald  S.  MacLaughlin   (Dec,  1917-Aug.,   1918);   John  C. 

Champion   (August,  1918-Feb.,  1919) 
Rimini,  Stanley  Lothrop 
Roman  District,  Harold  W.  Parsons 
Sardinia,  Charles  W.  Wright 
Taormina,  Charles  K.  Wood   (Dec,  1917-March,  1918);  Winifred  C. 

Putnam   (Mar.,  1918-Feb.,  1919) 
Turin,   Hugh  Heaton    (Jan.,    1918-March,   1918);   Irving  K.   Taylor 

March,  1918-Jan.,  1919) 
Venice,    Moses    S.    Slaughter,    Gertrude    M.    Slaughter     (Mrs.)     Co- 
Delegate 

Sub-District  Representatives 

Anzio,  H.  I.  Stickroth 
Canicattini  Bagni,  Dr.  L.  Alfieri-Marsh 
Chioggia,  A.  R.  Chandler 

Piacenza,  T.  Robertson  Williams    (Nov.,  1917-Nov.,  1918)  ;   Edward 
L.  Rowan  (July,  1918-Mar.,  1919) 


21S  APPENDICES 

Pisa,  Francesco  Mauro 
Umbria,  Sophie  P.  Foote 
Verona,  Richard  W.  Wallace 
Vicenza,  George  Utassy 

Tuberculosis  Department 

William  Charles  White,  Director 

Robert  H.  Bishop,  Jr.,  Asst.  Director 

Robert  G.  Paterson,  Section  of  Public  Health  Education 

Ervine  A.  Peterson,  Section  of  Public  School  Hygiene 

Richard  A.  Bolt,  Section  of  Child  Hygiene 

John  H.  Lowman   (to  January  4,  1919),  Section  of  Medical  Service 

Joseph  C.  Palmer   (Jan.  4-24,  1919,  Section  of  Medical  Service 

Lewis  D.  Bement,  Business  Manager 

Louis  I.  Dublin  (to  Nov.  4,  1918),  Section  of  Statistical  Information 

Knud  Stouman  (from  Nov.  4,  1918),  Section  of  Statistical  Informa- 
tion 

Mary  S.  Gardner,  Section  of  Public  Health  Nursing 

Elnora  E.  Thomson,  Educational  Director,  Section  of  Public  Health 
Nursing 

Annie  R.  McCauley,  Acting  Assistant,  Section  of  Public  Health 

Bertha  M.  Laws,  Secretary  to  Commission 


APPENDIX  VIII 

Representatives  for  Emergency  Work  in 
Devastated  Territory 

Ernesto  G.  Fabbri,  Inspector  General 
R.  Leland  Keeney,  Delegate 

AXJRONZO : 

C.  M.  Girard,  In  charge  of  civil  distribution 
H.  C.  DePinna  (Mrs.),  Civil  distribution 

Beixuno  : 

G.  M.  Springer  (Mrs.),  In  charge  of  civil  distribution 
R.  D.  Farquhar,  Civil  distribution 
Rosa  Gandolfo,  Nurse 

CONBX3LIANO : 

Seymour  Bulkley,  In  charge  of  civil  distribution 

Franc  Delzell,  Assistant 

Dr.  Jane  Bobbins,  District  nursing 

Jane  T.  Dahlman  (Mrs.),  Nurse 

Maria  T.  Ambrosini,  Nurse 

Anne  R.  Smith,  Civil  distribution 


APPENDICES  219 

OdEBZO: 

Frank  P.  Fairbanks,  In  charge  of  distribution  for  district 

Umberto  Possenti,  In  charge  of  outside  distribution 

Amado  Pacifici,  Civil  distribution 

Janet  Comerford,  In  charge  of  nursing 

Giorgio  Farinetti,  Nurse 

Agnes  Conway,  Xurse 

Gladys  H.  Moore,  Nurse 

POEDENONE : 

James  P.  Carmeci,  In  charge  of  distribution  for  district 

Edward  W.  Forbes,  In  charge  of  distribution  for  town,  later,  for 

district 
Samuel  M.  Sturgeon,  Civil  distribution 
Margaret  Farquhar,  District  nursing 
Dora  E.  Lobb,  Nurse's  helper 

Sacile  : 

E.  A,  Fraser,  In  charge  of  distribution  for  district 
Susan  Cort,  In  charge  of  distribution  Sacile  center 
Jeanette  F.  VanSciver,  Civil  distribution 
Millie  C.  Gosney,  District  nursing 
Margaret  P.  Smith,  Nurse  in  hospital 
Franca  Saroni,  Nurse  in  hospital 
Valeria  Rittenhouse,  Nurse  in  hospital 
Ellen  K.  Finerty,  Secretary  in  hospital 

San  Dona  Di  Piave: 

Mary  Frasca,  In  charge  of  distribution 
Edith  M.  Corson,  Civil  distribution, 

TOKRE  Dl  MOSTO : 

Charlotte  M.  Wiggin,  In  charge  of  distribution 
Joseph  P.  Rose,  Civil  distribution 
Agnes  H.  von  Kurowsky,  District  nursing 
Loretta  A.  Cavanaugh,  In  charge  of  hospital 

Trento: 

Louis  F.  Corti,  In  charge  of  distribution 
Amey  0.  Aldrich,  Distribution 

Teeviso : 

Leland  R.  Keeney,  Delegate  Treviso  District  and  reoccupied  terri- 
tory beyond  Piave 

Harry  H.  Rocbefort,  In  charge  of  warehouse 

Edward  K.  Taylor,  In  charge  of  stores 

G.  F.  Voile,  In  charge  of  transportation  at  Treviso  and  reoccupied 
territory 

Thomas  R.  Pearce,  In  charge  of  distribution  in  Valdobbiadene  Dis- 
trict 


220  APPENDICES 

Robert  D.  Irion,  In  charge  of  medical  stores 

Glyn  Davies,  In  charge  accounting  at  Treviso 

Edward  C.  Foote,  In  charge  of  accounting  at  Treviao 

W.  P.  Brown,  In  charge  of  shipping  at  Treviso 

Maury  F.  Jones,  Warehouse 

Mary  Herald,  Stenographer  and  civil  distribution 

Dorothy  Buck,  In  charge  medical  distribution 

Grace  E.  Peterson,  Stenographer  Medical  Department 

Delia  C.  DeGraw,  In  charge  of  nursing,  331st  Hospt. 

Udine  : 

Clarence  A.  Davis,  In  charge  of  distribution 
Z.  G.  Brockett,  Outside  distribution 
C.  A.  Sherman,  Civil  distribution 
Georgiana  B.  Sherman,  Civil  distribution 
Willie  C.  Johnson,  Civil  distribution 
Maurice  Best,  Civil  distribution 

VlTTORIO : 

Frederick  L.  Stephens,  In  charge  of  civil  distribution 

Douglas  Charnley,  Civil  distribution 

J.  B.  Thomas,  Civil  distribution 

Elizabeth  Morrison,  Distribution  of  clothing 

Dr.  Harriet  Ballance,  Charge  of  Medical  Dispensary 


Personnei. 

Home  Service  Department  of  the  American  Red 

Cross  in  Italy 

In  charge  of  Joseph  A.  Dial  until  Oct.,   1918 

In  charge  of  Charles  F.  White  from  Oct.,  1918,  to  May,  1919 

Organization  after  May,  1919 

Mildred  Chadsey,  Director 

Sophie  Palmer  Foote,  Supervisor  of  Case  Work 

Field 


Sue  Wade  Harmon, 

Field  Worker 

Brewster  Jones, 

<c 

Ugo  Pellegrini, 

« 

Julia  Raymond, 

tt 

Giovanni  Ricca, 

It 

Ada  Sassi, 

St 

Carmie  V.  Vacca, 

<( 

Jay   Walker, 

« 

Sara  Welsh, 

« 

APPENDICES 


221 


Office 


American 
Anderson,  Capitola  Eugenia 
Fitzpatrick,  Clare  Elliott 
Galloway,  Elsie 
Giomi,  Anne 
Hughes,  Dorothy 
Lonsdale,  Jane  White 
Nebergall,  Dorothy 
Piggott,  James 
Stewart,  Verda 
Story,  Vivian 
Weadick,  Sarah  Isabel 


Italian 


Ambrosini,  Maria  Teresa 
Bajetto,  Alesandra 
Borello,  Justina 
Campana,  IMaris 
D'Amico,   Livia 
D'Angelo,  Gennaro 
Failli,  Elena 
Lenox,  Laura 
Locascio,  Laura 
Malatesta,  Bianca 
Mariotti,  Sara 
Perticucci,  Luigna 


Mrs.  Charlotte  M.  Heilman  and  Miss  Mary  Grant  Eraser,  nurses  of 
the  Tuberculosis  Department,  have  also  done  field  work  for  this 
department. 


APPENDIX  IX 

Ambulance  Service  and  Rolling  Canteen  Service 

The  decorations  here  noted  are  Italian  decorations. 

*  Silver  Medal 
**  Bronze  Medal 

*"  Silver  Medal  and  War  Cross  —  2  or  more  citations 
*' Silver  Medal  and  War  Cross — 1  citation 
***  War  Cross  —  2  or  more  citations 
****  War  Cross — 1  citation 

Utassy,  George  ****  Quartermaster  General 
Bates,  Robert  W.****  Director  of  Field  Service 

Ambulance  Service  —  Section  I 


Ackerman,  E.  B. 

Appleyard,  E.  H. 

Argille,  Benjamin  F. 

Arrott,  Charles  R. 

Baker,    James    H.    (also    Section 

Barber,  Theo.  P. 
Barlow,  William  E. 
Barr,  Robert  H. 
Bird,  Fred.  0. 
Bermingham,  Arch  N. 
Bragg,  Fred  A. 
Burns,  Raymond  F. 
Chadbourn,  H.  N.  Jr. 
Chambers,  Ambrose  E. 


Chambers,  Robert  N. 
Clark,  Charles  M. 
Cloud,  John  K.*' 
Collier,  Clifford  G. 
Connett,  Thomas  0. 
Gumming,  Robert 
Cunningham,  Robert  A. 
Darling,  Herbert  H.,  Jr. 
Davis,  Russel 
Detweiler,  Meade  D.**** 
Dickinson,  Wells  S. 
Dos  Passos,  John  R. 
Droppers,  Seton  Rand  **** 
Eliot,  Charles  Wm.  2nd**** 
Ellsworth,  Duncan  S. 


222 


APPENDICES 


Ambulance  Service  —  Section  T. —  Continued 


Fairbanks,  S.  VanK. 

Fiske,  John 

Forbes,  John  M. 

Frenning,  Alfred  B. 

Goodwin,  William  H. 

Harris,  Harley  H. 

Heyne,  Oscar  C. 

Howard,   Charles  S. 

Hunter,  Lytle  Gale 

Irwin,  Leon,  Jr. 

Jacob,  Ralph  E. 

Jacob,  Arthur  C. 

Johnson,  Percy  D. 

Kahn,     Howard      (also     Section 

Kenyon,  William  H.,  Jr. 
#King,  Joseph  M.  (also  Section  5) 
Kingman,  Henry  S. 
Knapp,  Harry  K.,  Jr.*** 
Konrad,  Harvey  M. 
Lawson,  John  H. 
Lindermann,  L.  C. 
Lummis,  John  M. 
Morgan,  Stewart  McK. 


Osterholm,  Harvey  G. 
Page,  Charles  A. 
Penniman,  Gardner  B. 
Poore,  Dudley    (also  Section  4) 
Rodie,  Walter  W.  (also  Section  5) 
Rogers,  Bernard  F. 
Rotan,  Ellwood,  Jr. 
Salter,  Thomas  M. 
Seeley,  Coles  Van  B.**** 
Steers,  James  R.,  Jr. 
Sturdy,  Herbert  K.,  Jr.*** 
Van  Cleve,  John  R. 
Van  Don  Arend,  Fred 
Villard,  Henry  S. 
Voile,    Gottlieb  Fred    (also   Sec- 
tion 5)  **** 
WaMispuhl,  Charles  *'' 
Wharton,  Bayard  * 
Wharton,  Thomas 
Wheeler,  Alfred  H. 
White,  Richard  L. 
Widner,  Joseph  A.**** 
Young,  Charles  J. 


Ambulance  Service — Section  II 


Bakewell,  William  M. 
Bangs,  Edward 
Brunson,  Stiles  M. 
Buell,  Robert  L. 
Cady,  Fred.  L.  A. 
Campbell,  Donald  L. 
Chipman,  John  H. 
Chrystie,  Walter,  Jr. 
Collinson,  Alfred  E.* 
Cooper,  Irving  C. 
Cordner,  Edward  Q. 
Crew,  Morris  W. 
Davidson,  Lucius  H.** 
Desloge,  Joseph 
Dodson,  Rowland  W. 
Dorr,  G.  H.* 
Dresser,  George  E. 
Ellis,  Parker  "K. 
Fast,  Thomas  MacB. 
Forster,  Gardner  **** 
Frisbie,  Chauncey  O. 


Jones,  Fontaine  M. 

Lothrop,  Francis  B. 

Lundquist,  John  S.  H. 

Macv,  Valentine  E.,  Jr. 

Miller,  Richard  K. 

Nash,  Francis  P.,  Jr. 

Newburn,  Arthur  C. 

Nichols,  John  R. 

Osborne,  R.  H. 

Parmelee,  John  R.  (also  Sec.  3) 

Parmelee,  James  H. 

Reid,  Hugh  H. 

Richmond,  Stacy  C. 

Roblee,  Milo  H. 

Roe,  Clarence  F.** 

Rogers,  Horatio  R. 

Roland,  Robert  H. 

Scudder,  John  A. 

Steward,  Gilbert  L. 

Stoughton,  Philip  V. 

Temple,  Richard 


#  Killed  by  Austrian  shell  at  Bassano  Sept.  29,  1918. 


APPENDICES 


223 


AsrBULANCE  Service  —  Section  II. —  Continued 
Frothingham,  William  B.  Thomas,  Josiah  B.**** 

Gillespie,  James  P.*'  Van  Ingen,  Lawrence 

Gordon,  John  A.**  Wadsworth,  Seymour 

Green,  Julian  H.  Whitney,  James  McV. 

Hutt,  Roy  H.  Wolfe,  Dudley  F.  C.** 


Ambulance  Service  —  Section  III 


Abbott,  Paul 

Alexander,  K.  D. 

Askam,  Oliver  p.**** 

Beall,  Edward  C. 

Bollmeyer,  Fred  J. 

Brackett,  Hosford 

Brown,  Linford  E. 

Campbell,  Kenneth  **** 

Carpenter,  George  N.**** 

Carr,  Peyton  T.,  Jr. 

Clisbee,  George  H. 
Dalzell,  Robert  B. 
Doe,  Charles  W.,  Jr.**** 
Eaton,  James  H.**** 
Fairbanks,  James  M. 
Fisher,  Clarence  A. 
Flint,  Cuvier  G. 
Fussell,  Raymond  H. 
Gibbs,  Harry  P.,  Jr.**** 
Gould,  Howard  F. 
Hanks,  Raymond  T.**** 
Harper,  Edward  B. 
Henderson,  Winsted  C.**** 
Hohl,  Willard  H.**** 
Howard,  Harlan  H. 
Hobart,  James  C,  Jr. 
Huber,  Jerome  J. 
Humphrey,  Merrill  W. 
Jensen,  Allan  L.  G. 
Johnson,  William  McK. 
Jones,  Francis  C. 


Kellett,  William  W. 
Masters,  Charles  E.**** 
Miller,  John  W.,  Jr.*    (also  Sec- 
tion 2) 
Morrison,  James  H. 
Musser,  Edgar  Hale 
Nash,  Francis  J. 
Noves,  George  C.**** 
Olson,  Malcolm  G.**** 
Palmer,  Merrill  G.**** 
Pillsbury,  Stirling  G. 
Prescott",  Bryant  **** 
iRieser,     Robert     "(also     Section 

Rodes,  Clifton 
Simmons,  Rouse 
Slade,  W.,  Jr.**** 
Smith,  Douglas  M. 
Smith,  Wilbur  E.**** 
Spelman,  Henry  M.,  Jr.**** 
Stinson,  Robert 
Tedford,  John  H.**** 
Tliomas,  Frank  N.,  Jr. 
Thomdike,  Robert  A.**** 
Tison,  Paul 

Valentine,  Alastir  I.  O. 
Warren,  Charles  B. 
Welty,  Duncan  0.,  Jr. 
Williams,  Harvey  L. 
W^ilson,  Lloyd  R. 
Wolfe,  Henry  C. 


Ambulance  Service  —  Section  IV 


Allyn,  Philip  M. 
Anthony,  E.  A. 
Baker,  Edwin  H.,  Jr. 
Barnett,  Lawrence  T. 
Baum,  Richprd  T. 
Blakeley,  George  B. 
Brumback,  Theo.  B. 


Lasher,  Charles  W.**** 
Lindsey,  Rupert  W. 
Meyer,  Arthur 
Moore,  William  S.,  Jr.* 
Nevin,  Jack 
Pease,  Warren  H. 
Pentz,  William  R. 


224 


APPENDICES 


Ambulance  Service  —  Section  IV. —  Continued 


Comegys,  Henry  J. 
Cory,  Robert  C* 
Crafts,  John  G. 
Crandall,  Charles  S. 
Dickerman,  Robert  E. 
Eoff,  William  T. 
Feder,  Walter  J.*' 
Fisher,  Lawrence  G. 
Flaherty,  Jerome  K. 
George,  William  H.**** 
Goodrich,  Fred.  P. 
Green,  Augustus  W.**** 
Griffin,  Charles  B.**** 
Hache,  Pierre 
Hamilton,  Henry  M. 
Harris,  G.  W. 
Hawes,  Richard  S.,  Jr. 
Hemingway,  Ernest  M.* 
Home,  William  D.,  Jr. 
Jenkins,  Howell  G. 
Johnson,  Herbert  S. 


Porritt,  Longshaw  K.**** 
Preston,  George  W.**** 
Rehra,  George  E. 
Reid,  John  K. 
Rollins,  Wm.  S.,  Jr. 
Russell,  Scott 
Schwartz,  Samuel 
Scudder,  Clifton  R. 
Shaw,  Carleton 
Shaw,  Emmett  H. 
Shipway,  Leslie  S. 
Simmons,  Zalmon  G.,  Jr.*** 
Spiegel,  Frederick  Wm. 
Thomason,  Arthur  E. 
Toole,  Brice  W. 
Waldron,  Jonathan  G.**** 
Weiss,  William  L. 
Welch,  Edward  J.,  Jr. 
William,    George   W.    (also   Sec- 
tion 5)  **** 
Wolfs,  Wilfred  H.**** 


Ambulance  Service  —  Section  V 


Agate,  Frederick  J.*' 
Baker,  Milford  J. 
Bennett,  Robert  C. 
Bigelow,  Talman  **** 
Bixby,  Willard  W.**** 
Bobb,  John  McC.**** 
Bridgman,  Eldridge 
Buntin,  Roger  W. 
Butler,  Hiland  G. 
Comstock,  Chauncey  D.^ 
Dougherty,  Edward  R.*' 
Duncan,  Elbert  B. 
Geggie,  James  C,  Jr.** 
Greenland,  Hayward  *** 
Hicks,  William  E.**** 


May,    Lewis     S.     (also     Section 

Murphy,  Chandler  W. 
Norton,  Percy  D. 
Piper,  George  F.**** 
Price,  George  M. 
Rigby,  William  H. 
Seguin,  Ted  W.**** 
Sherman,  Charles  A.,  Jr.**** 
Sturgeon,  Samuel  M.**** 
Tabor,  Fred  A.  W-.*** 
Tandy,  William 
Vanderveer,  John  S.**** 
Wormser,  Robert  S. 


EoLLiNG  Kitchen  Service 

Gamble,  James  ****    Director 

Bauby,  John  W.****  Miller,  Walter  F.**** 

Beach,  John  P.  Minturn,  John  W.**** 

Brown,  William  P.  #  Moore,  William  D.,  Jr.* 

Cochran,  Gilford  A.****  Myles,  Beverly  R. 

Dabney,  Alfred  S.  #  Penniman,  Gardner  B. 

Donaldson,  Harry  F.  Rogers,  L.   W.**** 

Ehrhart,  Eugene  N.****  Seager,  Richard  B. 


APPENDICES 


225 


RoixiiTG  Kitchen  Service. —  Continued 


Friedman,  Victor  H.**»* 
Gill,  Charles  F.**** 
Ladd,  Carroll  W. 
#  Lasher,  Charles  W.**** 
Lee,  Rudolph  H.*"" 
Leggett,  Schuyler 
McConnell,  Roy  P. 
##McKey,  Edward  N/ 
Miller,  Alfred  J. 


Searles,  Donald  W. 

#  Seeley,  Coles  V.**** 

#  Sturgeon,  Samuel  M.***» 
Squier,  Frank 
Stearns,  Howard  Y.**** 
Stillman,  Carl  S.*»** 
Todd,  John  R. 
Waterbury,  Reggie 


#  Also  appear  on  Ambulance  List. 

#.j^  Killed  by  an  Austrian  shell  while  on  duty  June  16,  1918. 


X 

l-H 
P 

Ph 


1-1 
o 

M 
W 

Ph 

o 

w 
P4 


o 

00 


o 

n 
El 

■al 
o 
o 
►J 


E< 

< 
(Li 

ft 


0        § 

.2     O 


s  c8  5> 

<u  a)  t< 
g  «M 


<3  „ 


■^  s-  a^  o 


"  ^1  t. 

5.^    0)   »   (< 

fa  ir-'S 


OP'S 
__  Ml 


03 

a 

rt  13  CI  !-   OS 

M  o  "  -S  ^  • — 


OQ  ^ 


d 

C3 


.g 


ii  S  a-.- 


0.U  S'S  a  a 

a  a  o  c«  o  o^ 


o 


M«-2g 


a 
o  « 


o 

d  C  c! 

©  OiS  a)  a>  ®  g  S;  c  '^ 


B'o.'S^Qass  SiJo.aa'3aaaat-si-a:g 


c8  Ml 
H  d 


T3 

—  d 

C3  03 


S.£;  d.£:-5  S-S  ?>  o  ^  ^>>%o>>  >  g 


Li 


G5        00O)O> 


O 

I 

ccco 


mo5 


d 

03 


d 

d 
i-s 


tl     tH     t< 

c3  o3  c^ 


rtinrn"     1-1  iH  tH  r-l  l-H  rH  1-1 


o  d  d^ 
d'-S*"'  d„  — 

«    d  U    cS    03 

d  o  d  d  «  « 
S<iJP4EhSS 


a' 

4j  X^  r-l  ^  iH  r-l 

2 1;  * 


^  t,  s  Mifc,  >  o  a^  f:.     d  h  a  «  S  f' 

S  OSSJ   d  C3  o  OS  So!  5-      .035  3  =8^  « 


00  03  00 


>  >   >  t»   ^  o  o   h  >'  '^.S?  M)  ri   ti  M) 
OOOo=5ia)t8o3g-j3a3 


a 


PQ     "-- 


*d  -3 
d.2  d 
0)  iH      d 


w§ 


cs  <« 


OS 

< 


O^  S3 

a)  a>  - 

.=  <lj  I' 

o^  — ■r  d  d 

fli      -,^  .1-1  as   cc 

2  d  I-  i  ><  X 


CO  >H 

&(  . 

0) 
c3 


^-O  q  03.- 


d 

d 
O 


PQ 


-Mill 

Oj  00  on  CO  00  CD 


.« 


M 


W" 


SS 


^TS    OJ    05.— 

-dgwp: 
s-   T  03 

d._-     o.S 

03  t<  a  >-■  >i 

Islla 

226 


d 
o.ti 


0) 

d^S 
<u  3 

?  d 


|«- 


d 
o 

■^  "d  ^  M 
3  d  M  d 


f^.S    03 

03       U 

03  3-2 

M  2'3 

1^  c^   03 

PQMrt 


M|Zi 


.  3'(ir 

a."  o 
i*  d 

ill 

OS'S  eS 


d 

03 

d 

i 


iz^OtfMrtf^fef;tf!2i^«^S)§rt(l^oM««^tf«K0Sfe;§fe«>      ft 


d 

u 


o 
a 

o 
d 


« 

a 
a 

o 

QQ 

O 

a 
o 

OS 


•d  iKi 
d'pS 
''I 
ja  <» 

s  d< 

b£<J 

d 
W.9 

M  3 

d_M 

■^•^ 
w  o 

^S 

u 
a> 


n 
o 

02 


o 

M 

O 

o 


H 

Q 


> 


00 


■♦3  .^ 
fl  fl 


m    CO 


o 

fl 


h4 


.  a 


u  O 
■aJO! 


O  O  OJ  o  ^  o 


&0    .  fl 
es  >  2 

ce  k;  J-i  KJ  o  «2 

"'-1  I.I  w  dj*^  -^  *r" 


o 


O)   » 


g-^ 


at- 


■S  «  fl  1^02 
o     .2  a  o 


©n 


O) 


5  °  3 


e 
fl 
o 

I 


U  5 

a  Pi 

002 


s 


OQ    09 

fl  to 
C3  CQ 
0<!j 


©         5) 


as 


osoaa 
fl 

a  fl  fl  fl 

a  a  a^  g  a  ga  a-S-: 


S  o 

fl  fl  c3  m 

•  ■  a)  »  t.  5  q  j5  Q 


es 

•E 

CO  ^ 

•g  C8  ^  o  S  S 

II<Bffifla)(D.S'»«<»3£'sf,53fl®flfl 

aaa^aaaaaa-S^  SS.s  «  a  «  g 


c^S^C(5«fi5?M05pH  JS^P^PHt^««o^SclH«pHtfei2^p^fc,«o;^P5Sf> 


o  > 
■♦J  -^ 

QDO 


fl  u 

0)00 


OiQ. 


:a 


3 


o 
fcl 

•     <s> 

.  o    - 


9< 
xn 


rH  1-1 


^  fl 

a  eg 


fl 


c  Is 
O   - 


S 


fl 
o 


c».^         ^ 


<I3 


lA 


_  fl 
C3  u 


fl 
u 

0-3i0SH0" 


Wl  _ 

fl    .  o 

fl   C3  U 

■3  u  t. 


QQ      .    <0 


•  fl 

•  O 


OT 


^^  ^^        fl  — 1   0)  ^-<   QJ 


fl  o 

■S-'-g'fl  >> 

K  rf  C  o  Jh 
fl  o  fl  >-i  C8 
0-;  o  »■►; 
"1^  S-S'-S 


cooiojoi 

rH  r-l  iH  "-I  CX) 


5  »  d.S  fl.S  o  a;  o  3.3 


-*^ 
05 
ho 


0! 
3a 


rHOlr-t  tH 


C3    fl    C^    C3 


00      002=0500x^00^5 

1-1    "H  r^  iH  "-I  w  iH  r' iH  r' '^ 


05  WrH  iH  (5)0> 


fl  S  fl-fl  !=  t; 


S5S2?i»S34^ 


;  >  — 
-  flufl>3"5" 
O-sO'-sSoi^O 


h 

a 


fl  u  3  ce    ■ 


f,CCCO 
^iHi-( 

«  ^  > 


a 


t>i  t. 


^^  ©^--s  g^ 


fl  c^ 


fl.2'0  - 
?'^^  2 

Rda 


a- 


'  cc 

oPh  '-' 

t-    ^    -. 

fl-2;5 


a 
.2 

CQ 

•,  fl 
^   .Q 


OS 

a 
5  ^-^  a 

a  °  .,-■« 


.2  C 
o  « 


3-2^2  fl 
—  o  o  o 


u 

2 

CQ 


fl 
03 

1-5 


H3 


O 


227 


aa 
^^  fl" 

-^-  r-—   ,-«       —      —      ^   .^ 


o 


K 
M 


o 

M 

u 
o 


H 


o  >  <a 


p. 


5z; 


fa 
P 


E    ©    « 
«  fa  M 


mm 


fa  fa 


2    W    qj    S    *^    ^ 


(3 


-0.1 


i-o  0) 


•<!uw-<i-]co 


■S„—  <D»      _-<»      _,_ 
•^  .PH  r^  ;-4  ^     r^  fa     r7«  "^ 


05 


■(1X1 


a  a 

1-5  "-5 


»00  0> 


O  d  a 


^  fa  fi  si 
I 


fa 

ft 

I 

00 


253      S_^      2S   iiSS_-3   ppiSsp      3   ps   ^ 


MJhJ 

<!0 


fa  fa 


S>  fa 

.22 

fa  o 

•SCO 

CO 

^^- 

^^  li 

cs  a 

0  C3 

o  f>. 
fa  fa 

«« 


rj  fa 


a 
.2 
'S 

d 

C9 

o 


3j3 


fl  5 


u  o  O  »  »  3 


o  a)  3  0$  © 


*^  fat-5 
»  =>_ 

-  -W 
-o  >.   . 

fa  »  a, 

'3'3  3 

nnn 


H 


to   ™ 

d  oi  g 

s  a  o 

a  csJ3 
<!i-=E-i 

oT  q^  ci" 
a  CI  o 
fa  fa  fa 
3  t*.^ 

mpQfQ 


"P. 


s 


o)  fa  s2  « 
^-d^  3  fa 

>i  ro  aj  cC  <"5 

MUuoO 


228 


n 

fa 

3 


3 
01 
P< 
fa 

CS 

O 


fe 


>• 

O  a 
fa<< 

Pifa 
fa  fa 
C8   cS 

DO 


^^  O  QJ  03 


(S      2  (u  o 

-  -  S  i:  ce  2 

ESS   f'   S-"  * 

o  o  a5  3  S 

fa  fa  O  w  ea  ™ 

>H     fa     ^1     fa   ^    > 

cS  rt  03  c3  c^  rt 

ooaooo 


•5 

"a;  k 
00 


OOob^^S         0000 


03' 


CO      • 

© 

•  a 

f^S 

gS* 

.2g 

O-? 

•  p-T  ^ 

a  a 

'a  "3 

c8  (S 

■«-3    -tJ 

a  a 

©  © 

00 

o 

M 

02 


o 

M 

<S 

o 
o 


g 


Q 


60 

a 


o 

I— I 


«2o 
o 

03  ^^ 
to  fl 

CO    □ 


5». 


o 


o 


Si  *» 

■»  l»  d)        >       -a 

n  o  i<      >-      " 


a  a  S 

.  (U  y  ©  o 
o  -M  j;  ifl  oj 


a 

-♦J 

s 

S3 

o 

rt2 


®  o 

5  9 


^JftOQCC 


.fe 

o 

<- 

fc     »- 

» 

-sa     j:    .   . 

3 

g'^&.^.s 

■S  <» 

feg&Q-* 

'^^ 

O  "U  o       „• 

s|g|| 

CCOCOOO 

uw 

.•a 


N       a  Sill-: 
o  a  c  !h  tun' 


o  o 

CI  a 


c4 

.-  o 


5  =s 


•  o    • 

■  c 


0,  c  c  G  N  n  a  g  cj  a  n  g  5  £  B 


03 

2.5  «   • 
S  S  c 


O>>oc3:eisooo 


.iS  c8S-=^ 


O  eti  c3  O  o 


2  =«Q      ^  ci'a 


«  a  P 


tf>f^fL,0^«<!j<JC3«fl4tHK«tfPiOf>>S^S«0     tfA,E-<mpd(V!o;>PkCOtfKEH« 


s  >> 


„  o  B  ca 
2?  ^-  t^  « 


>    >    >    O    -;    QJ    CJ 


^•"^  ^    ^    ^    '^  ^    '^    ^    ^    Z.  '^    ^    li    ^    ^ 


>>>.—  — 

t<    L>    B   03 

©   (U 


O)  O  03  O^ 


^  h  M  ^ 

c8  rt   a  Q. 


THCOrHSrli-l        iH  r-l  r-1  iH 


"^  "^  ^ «» 
©  ©  «  « 


_t-ao      i>ooQCoo2      00  oc  00  =<:  cs  t- 1-      oct>cooo 

^jHrH        rt-Hi-lrHr'        Jt(  rt  i-l  ""I  iH  J^  r-l        "I  ^TT^ 


©   O   © 


>    >    «  «    Q, 

O  O  ©  u  © 


>2  "  S  =  C3  o  ® 


!^0 

©  ©  a 

"O  o  o 


n  d 


o  ©  ©  ST 
OQOm 


s 


w.     *-"     O 

-Saa 

d  cs  d 


•  'H  ■  ■ 
^2.  5  e  ® 
£  o  I-  t.7; 

cj  ij  a>  aj 


a 

C3 
*  ^iS 

«=•  . 

e8  t-  © 

-^^     . 

-    ,  ©' 

u  u  u 

c3   Ed   ^ 


a 

d 

•5 

03 


pq 


P5    ••§.§ 

©'^  w 

u  u^  ^ 
S3  «         O 

a  © 

©-ii'=  a 
___  0000 


jffi! 


n 


_     .2  '^ 

a       ^  >i 

I  006= 
a  a  a  a 
0000 
0000 


229 


a 
o 

*w  03 

Oh 


a  .22  W.2 


,  2^  .t^  m!  a -^  5^  g  ."ti  a  .Ti:  ."s 

ISSSS  cQSb-<oH<!S-«!ba 


oo 


«  ©  c9 

00  00  °o  00 

^^  ©   =* 


_  00  05 
05  r-liH 


rt   >  *" 

7TI 


©  *  0 
oSo 


!2;»-5 


<!0 
o  ■ 

o   - 
00 


u 

S  ©  a 
8  ©3 

>i  © 

^  0. 

§8 
00 


o  h*^ 

O  ©  o 
©  cc  cfi 
;->  k.  bi 
000 
000 


M 

0 
09 

CO 

d 


II 
oo 


H 


a 
a 
O 

a 
o 


I 


!2! 


.a 

g  O  C3 
&  u 


'M  a, 


M      g 


OB  00      „_  bo 
-   ~     •"  O 


a 

C8 


g§^. 


>4 

a)    - 


fl  V  d 


O 


a  go  hT3 


0-a 


<7 

a 


zs^: 


!^02i-iQ!2;     wOK^;2;<!Ma2coa3c» 


d 


o 

M 

< 

o 
o 


p. 

H 
ft 


"O 


3~     "^il^os-n^rosoos-fc, 


-    '-'        .«  2  .2  *  ca  o  S 

2  g  2  (B  5  o-|,§  2  g  giS  <B  ©  ©  o-  g  <c  rt  M<B  ©  0)  Sa'E.a  (pSffigoScBiBgflaxD 

l^-d  a^  a  ^1  a  fl  §  a  a  a  a  a-g^  ai5  s  a  a  a  o-s  >  a'5.E;9  a^  a  a  £  «  a  I 

C>a3o30o300«Oa)ai-3  0000>(So--oOOOoaSoc30'C!OcSOoO.~00 


Eh 

a 


1 

oo 


03 


P4 

H 
03 


08 


03    h    C3 
O   c3   U 


V       a>  ^  a>  ••«  ^ 


+j  1^  ^M 


cs'w  bo 

i^  2 

„  ^  o3'2  o  a  c8 
S  s"  U.2  ir  a  o 


05        0000 
-    iH-    - 


02      CCO•<S^-^ 


en 

05  00  0)00  _ 
T-lrHrHiH^ 

Mill 

00  00 


05  00  05 


2  ^  00  t- (i  „  CC  00  00  00 

ojiS  a  a;  o  u  o  ^S  o 


a 

1-5 


w 


5  M 


a 

.a 
to 

0)  :^'  CJ  w  a 

di.':?  o  o  o 
OOOOO 


pq 


tJ  a  s--^ 


a>  o! 


oj  &.  P«  fct  rt'  a 

o  a  a^=  a 
fci  hJH  3  a  3 

aooooo 


^  a     > 

ao^ 

■  a 


W 


bo 
bo 
C8 


a  _^ 

3  3  3 


s 


a 

1-5 

a" 

a 

3 


.2  " 

O  O 


!=>  a  ;  ;•«  "  >> 

is'Sa.'siEs'Esv 


.^* . . . 


oo^'^oo     2 


OS 


00  05 


H^  ^  i?  a'  "  .D 
«i2  a  S^  « 


&o 

3 


230 


£f  a  a 
o'CE 

<D  tv  <v 

aM 
o    , 

•fa  a  a 

CS    Cd    C3    bu    kw    v\j    <.o 

OQQPOQQ 


<1     03 


-  i"   co"    . 

CC"--"  .FH 

t<  >  (>  >■ 
^  c8  a  A 


05 

a 

C8 


bo  OS 
Oi5 


'  a  •  a 

o  o 

cS  w  4 

IH  O  IH 


§.2 

inisi 
rcu 
inisi 

sa 

cBMQ 

vo 

fe-c  a-a 

■<<"!o<!Eh-< 

©     -     • 

3  a;  a 

-      ^"f 
00  t-xoo  00  00 


Q,      ^1  o  a  ^  o  Vi 
CO     -iJOH^gQ-a) 


^  c»  CO  bo  p»)  OS 
o 

QQ   DQ    m    CO    DO    CO 

a  ^  C8   03  CO   C8 


1? 

e 

M 
< 

o 
o 

►J 


M 


6. 


n 

< 
P 


OQccg 

O    M   H 

©MO) 


3 


o 


d 

"2 

'> 

'•3 
a 


cccg  ^«  g 


®  o  a 


O   OQ 

S^J  — —  c 

^    CO    Q 

.■-:  o  cj  q; 


3  6 
02  02 


I 

s 


£■« 

03  -^ 
GO 

C   o 

mo 


"3  t 

s«5 


SfcS 


03; 


5  JO 


"i 


a  tii 


S  o  ^ 


O 

a 

03    - 


,  i.tl«§ 

iKfifeizi 


©   w   0) 

si  a 

-  "  o 


cQ  es 

«  '^  C 


.2     — 


2S 


OS 


Ha 


Oft 


o 

(3 


03 
O 


a '-3 


.■3 


Is 

.■3  t3  ^  "^ 
OSOQO 


ae-sa-dgSaa 

oocoe.-aoo 


a 

«}  o 

itj  J;  a 


to 


a  "  ,„  ,„  »!       o  03  >-. 


a 

s 

o. 
a  o 
'-'3 
.S2 

2^ 
a  a 


■  ts 

•  «  05 
2?  ®        ^        *  fl8 

a1IJ:3|Bgj5 


a_^ 

O  03 

•^_S fc.2 


OOOSO'H       OOOOO)    •         -co 

iHrHiH-  iHiHr-IO»        00  r-l 


.      ■   U      ■  U      • 

■H"  r^-  "-I- 


03 


>?s  s 


^9 


a  a> 


a  a 


";i^  03^  5  a 


IS  03 


cS 


OOOO        t-        OOCOCO^        OO^Cci  IcO  lcC0OQDO0<»        ooooooootc        55 


d'  fc<'  p.  a,     b  a  M^-     b  b 


•  a 

•  03 

si 

OQ    03 


« 


?^o 

o  a 

o 

o  S 

-a 
a 

S^ 

> 

CH 

^  Ml 

a 

<D  a 

n 

>-i  o 

MiJ 

P-( 

<o  » 

0) 

fift 

Q 

^  a 

a*^ 

eS  c3 

t<  X  a  s 

03  0)  S  a 
*:■  .    ^ 

Oi   O   O)   Cj 

QQQQ 


a— ""2 

c;  — ^ .-.  o 
231 


a 


S.:^ 


<u  o 

^^ 
p  a 

.  o 
'So 

fift 


O     "    *     O     P<  tl 

00^0<!0 


a-S^aa 


02 


<1 


;K'a  !- 

vj 

a    .  t- 
a  03  c3 

O  U  ^ 


O 

®  a 
u  a 

==■   -"a 
«-«  o 

tfi53 


« 


O    <j 


OJ 


a. 5 

4;  ■4-'      .     ."C 

»  «J  c3  s  a 
S-^  o  a-  a 
a  a  03-3^ 


cS 
J3 
-** 

cS 


o 

3 


m 
o 

► 

N 

m 


<D 


X  >^ 
0.2 

*?  t.  I.  a> 

ni  r*    ni 


•M    t:iJ 


el's  a 


D3 


PPPhOcoKm 


a)  u    • 

3!2 


(4 

I 

o 

Ml 


s 


bS 


a 

o 


rn      •  ^ 


oS£;z;Q    Q 


slops' 

O  »     .        0)  g 


<?  3  s 


OQlziMlz; 


w 

d 

•2  M  S  S  «  w  lU 

•*-*  d  o  "^  "^  "^  .2 


o 

l-l 

o 
o 
i4 


a 

©::: o    o 

a  ^        ^        o  eg  ^     a 

3  0)a)«4)O§©®£a.S''S'S 

■s'S'C'C  a  a'a  a  a-TS  a  a  s-s^  as  g 

>-Sc8e!OOa;OOc50  C^  a  O  O  ^  u 


o  s  a 

a  ifco^^aaaag «ag 


1^0)000 


o 


O 
I 


< 


C3 


n 


a 
o 

a 

o 

> 


a 
H 


d 
o 
■■3.2 

>  bfi  bA  cS  GO 

aa^o 
'  ®  '+3  Vj  CO  a 

Ml  a  a.S  >- 
.S  »  o  o-a  a.S 


00        0505 


d  d 
a  a 

I      I 


a  ^ 

1-5  <J 


.    ,       .    .       I 

00  00  CO  t>  00  _  00 


+» -w  ^  u  a  ■♦^  d 


s 


w 


'71  f-t  -^ 
C  03  t.     - 

a'  a"^  -« »^ 
s  a    ^  » 

h  (..  S-.  ^  t> 


««^ 


—      =1 


o      o  O) 


Ssss 


Q.4J  >■  > 

£"0  o  o 


P. 


00 


a2 

qT   - 
Cm 

01 J2 
>   cS 


-a  a  2 


d 

,0 .5 .3  ? 
c^  03  c3  OS 


O 


d 

C3 


cS  C3 


a 

O 

'  a 

a   '-S  » 

§.2J3 

^  d'rt-^      — 
a.s        « « 

p.g  a-s'^'-S'-s 


<!' tH  W  tH  iH  tH 


t;^  ^ji  J3  d' 

S1^  I  M  I  I 

t~  '  00 1>  CO  00  °o 


g"  «    0-30    ;-     3    « 


d 

g 


« 


.  o  c3  a  a*^ 

><i  a  a   .    w 
'^  a  a  CO  t.  a; 

>.©  t,  I.  t,  am 

c8  a>  a>  01  o  --^  '^ 
fe  [ii  &^  [i(  p^  fe  fc( 

232 


_d 
'■S 

a 
d 


—      d 


o  ® 


d  d  ^d 
ca  a  S"" 

00  t-  00  00 


Eh 


a 

d 

d 


>•  ^ 


u.S  d.L  .- 


t-OOOO        01        00  t'        CO  QO 
rHxHrH        r-l        rH  rH        'H  "H 


o<T5 

I      I 

CO  00 


'  tj  bib  ^ 

«  d'3 


<1     ^Q 


O  O 


fe 


s>  o  01 -S 
o-a    . 

fn    m   Q? 
.^  .^  03  O) 


C3-3 

-dg* 


o  o 
o  o 


'd-r' 

.a 

CO 

O)      - 

.OT3 

o  o 


m 

o 

M 

> 

P) 

■-! 

H 

«     . 

CQ 

•*» 

p-s 

fl 

O'S 

eS 

-M 

•4^ 

m 

•  a? 

m 

w  tio 

aa 

U}^ 

< 

<;o 

«    .a 

M  p. 

■a      >, 

•  ®  o 

o  M  2 

5fS§ 
-s  ^  ^ 


c6  cc  w  t, 


©     Q)     O     © 

M    W      .CO 

;-!  u  lJ  h 


02 


«J   rv  ^ 

02 


« 


302 


i^e  5^ 


j'u  a  S'm  ?3'^  5'o 


o 

M 

O 

o 


•a 

02 


--  a  o 

=8  c3  05 
PkOJCC! 


"'a         -.2 

Oc3°00d--0 


aa 

o  o 


MO 


QOfe  020200: -a!  Ho  02  02      C 


3   O  I 


00  ^ 

'5 

ho 


H  «  m  cQ  a 

®  :ia^  <o  <D  •3  Z  o 


2^^uS  a  a  a'Sc.a  a-a  i^  a  t^  a  5  a 

a  j3  '^3  oj  _o  ca  o  q  o  =8  ,=s  p  q  a  ^  q  ja  p  ^  o 


?l2^ 


<4 

a 

ao 


«(:(5«oSMaHfi4tfrtP^??;;z;KtffxEtf<)«<!Pio«« 


09 

0200 


U3    flS 

fe^-=  a 

S.t,  a-o 
MOE-i<! 


O)       O)       O) 


■< 
0 


^  i? 


a 

I 

CO 


> 


a 

1-5 


P. 


l"3 


iz;      M    ^ 


OS 


«8 
■73 


Sa 

a;  a 


f^      &(&( 


a  •  a     o 

O      •    O  ti  r-l 

arH'S 

3.i>..2  S-g?- 

X!  a:r  a  Bg-^^S^ 
S<S<)o    H^ol^ 


a       :  :e- 

05  05  o;  05 


,    ,      I      I  I  I  I 


o  a  o  ® 
0<l;z;Q 


■3)^.2  a 

S  ^  -  . 
5  °  »  ►- 

^  tH  a  a 


iHOSiH 


fe  r,- 1^ 


.  ^    . 

J3  a  *J  >i 

oj  :j  u  ce 


=»  t.  £  s? 
■^Sojrt 
fc7      -  " 

«  w'0,2 
,a  o  o  — 
MtX)fl  o 

ss  a  a 

C3  3  C3  S3 
COOO 


a  a 


03  o  ; 


OtHtHOO^^02§OfcOO     02S<! 


t»  >:3  4>  OT^  > 


a 

a 

1-5 


a>05  05 


a;  OJ  0) 


oo^xooooooccooi^loooo 


0>  Oi  00   Oi  0>   O  00 
rH  r-l  rH  O)  r-1  tH   iH  iH  0> 


S  «  fl 
I    I  ^ 


0000    I 
rHrHCO 


«  >-  i?b- 


q  a 


a*    . 
a^-« 

03  O 


o.SgCg^ 


..--5  S  PS  5 '-5 


I  cc  a»  o)  0)  rti  r;- 


233 


Sua 
a  a  a; 

t-  kc  a 
0006066000555 


►-  H  s  K 
OS  a  a  a 

h  ce  :a  cS 


n 


■ct    - 
.ti  o  a 


000 

000 


E 


Si 

>  e8 


CO 

5 

o 


o 


M.2  tl-^.S  § 


"  «,2 


=8 


(S 


CQ 

&  to     .^  o 

O   d  |3 


I 

a 

,  •  o  ^  00 


M    y    O  ^    "J    -rf 


(4    h    S 

P-P-o  S 
ra  c  a—  o 


"(33 


•S     e 

B  w 

en 

u       © 

CI  a  g.H  ® 


o 

M 

■< 

O 
O 


E- 

Pi 


o 

a 

a  o  gen 

^■3  3  a i; 

S  C3  O  O  C8 


A 


Si 


I 


o 
.2 

I 

« 
a 

CQ 


.s 

O    H    ®    <1^    ^     ^    ® 

a-Saa  ga  a 

O  d  O  O  03  o  o 


•".2 

0    CO 

.  rJ 


•  a 
■  h 
.  o 

.  ^ 


Q3Q.-*c3a)®©®a)no 

aS^o^saaaaga 

00>sPOPOoa)0 


I'w  CO  tiO 

fl_0_O  CI 

CI 


CO    CO    M 


cS 


aS^ 

o-  - 
u 


-^^^  P~'d,p^'P  o^ 


.  a) 
.  u 
.  cl 
.  =s 
u. 


a 
o 


a 


r-liHiHr-l        iH        ^  rH  rH  r-l  g 


u 

03 


Oh 


00      2  oj  5S 'r: '^  oc  =c  °°  CO     00      00  CO  00  00  OS  00  «>  00  5     'I 


o  o  sr.OiS  o  <u  d  d 


w 


©■^a  a^  fl 

Q  Ha  «w  g 


en 
02 


^  0  ., 


<1> 


0) 

o 

O 


(4 

■§..26 

(U    CO 


>» 


co2  tH  S.S  a  >»S  M) 
OOOOOOOOC3 


W   -  fi  >.*^  "3  ^  a  M 

-  m^^  rt  CO  I— (  re  ^  — , 


a 

J3 
O 
>-5 


TJ  J2~        S 


sc2  aTp  a„-;S'a'a 
*=  o  tjjiu— 3S  c  a 

■rc3a3ce=4c8flcao3 

234 


a 

M 


a  o 


ffl 


O  Bona 

ggaaaaa-slSaoeg 


a  >> 


4J— . 


^^S 


rHO>  00 

-    ^0OO5O5rH       0> 


<a  rt  a)  c5  oj  3  P<      o  <u  aj 


^ 


=393 


u 

©  3  o  a)  ..       _ 

-■a'  §  a"  a*^  -^ 
a  o  2  o  o   - 

Ca^W  O   CO  CO  t<     * 

a  a'cn'c  -So 
h  ^  i4  ^  M  ^  -f^ 

ca  cs  ^  ca  ^  cd  c8 


«  08 

^  a  >> 

cs  cs  V 


u 

a 


09 

bo 

V 

"3 

ft 


»4 

09 


a 
<s 
1-5 


■a 

w 

a" 
2 

a* 

K 


g 


H 


5 


to   3   > 


a 

•*^ 
a 

o 


so    CO  -»rf  .^  •-< 


is; 
o 

w 

< 
O 

o 


1=1 


-a 


^  ^    SO    W  *.»  .-^  •-»  W 


=1 


J  go 

115 


CZ2 


<t!      O 


H  t,  u  M  ■—  z!  ■:: 


.5.2  gg 
o  at;  03 


®        w        m  c3 

a>0::Ot,O0SOc3 


B   F 


o 

o 

ffi 

4>  - 

o 

a 

01 

c 

2 

5 

B 

a'S 

a 

g 

g 

o 

o 

0.5 

o 

o 

o 

c  ca 


3 


h 

(4 

ID 

« 

6 

JS^ 

m 

■-H 

J3 

a 

a 

^ 

tmbti 

o 

o 

.(^ 

c 

a 

an 

in 

<u 

o 

•aJcOCQ 


d  e  in  9 

J3  S.2  3 


S  S  oJpSS  0)  g  a,  5.2 


o  .„  * 

o  2  o 

£  a  a 

0)  o  o 


'S  Ml 

o  a 


•  C8 
■  u 


C3 
O 

(S 


3 
O 


aj  CO  a  05 


< 


3S°o-5„ 


.s 'i  3 

SB  g 

3-3  u 


c  ."^ 


m  to 

o  o  > 


to     r.*      W     M 

'>  OS'S .5 


U   3    cc   to   t.   M 

-■  g  a;  OJ 


■  (4 


05       Oi     •  Oi 


OS        Oi         OS  05 
iH         rHOSrHrH 


C3 


a  >.: 

c8  c3 


^:^   §   ^s^s 


e9 


^  a 


*i  a  !;  *^  .a 


a 

^ 


s 


es 

■a 
a" 

us 

a 

'S 


4>  O    O 


CO 

■a   ■■£ 

«,j3-3  !3 

■^.S  -.a  t». 

H-a  t,  to  ca 
5  C  3   =   S 

©    ©    Q    flj    gj 


a 
5 
■3 

a 
a 

d 


-«  c  Ch      Mi 
«  aT  o       3 


3 

'^■3  -     a 


^    pq 


W 


WWKWW    WWW    W 


>.  ... 

03  ;3   « 
S  Saoc 

a  a  01 

fcS  S 
000 

WWPh 
235 


c3_  aj  J= 


<D 


a 

03 

§2  S  5'=  3-2 

O  c3  Q  t- ;-  oi  = 
»vi      ^-'  i     5 

-Si      .a«^ 


o  o  o  o  o  o  o 


'  a  OS 

3_« 


to  to  a 

a)  Si--" 

"o     fc  5;  3 
«    22-2 


CO  00 


OS     OS 


OS 
r-IOS 


0> 


OSrH        rt^-     rtS 
■H"  .      to       -    iH 


00 


=^.2  -  a 
o^QOoo 


3-^  u  o  o  5  « 


Sft^-^e,     a't."S.xi-5 
5i;i  «     C3E-1  3  a  «> 


"'ia  2 

C3  0!  3  u 

■a  to"  - 

,«-  a  a  to 

3:    oj.-    <D 


W 


5:       ^  & 


O  O  3  3 

WWWM 


a 

u 

3 

a 

^ 

to 

s 

i 

^ 

0 

J 

C3 

to 

3 

3 

>« 

W    ►I'WM 


8 

res 

er 

tary 

er 

school 

school 

i 

OS 

«0        C3   Qj         03 

(4 

1 

0 

uts  cS-S  s  i  S 

m   Qi    QJ    ^    QJ   TO    w 

t-  bcia 

3  ;.  c3 

"3 

'o 

o 

M  S  CQ  |i<  OMEh  E-l  fe  OO 

K 

So  '^ 


M  o  t»  i:  CO 


o 

M 
< 

o 
o 


g 


o  o 


°   2   S  *   <« 


KccoE 


•'^  0  5 

Q  Art 

.  t,  t,  w  ts 

•CJ  (U    Q)    1-. 

M  MM  O 

i  o  o 


ia  S  1^  ^^ 

w    ®   (U 


°i      a     ?*  _      °5     & 


g«2g 

M    -:    03 
W    fl    00 

»  O  tc 


■ "    a  a 


o:zz,  £.: 


■iSaaaang^-go|a^g« 


o  o  O  O  H 
J3  ►t-)  hrH  r"  vt 


C!   O  o- 


2.°  „ 

"o'-S  o  5 


mEHQipitf|i5gssii^<;pqK;^K;^mtJ«(« 


a  bJosaaa-SaaSa'B.aa 

OCJOOOOwOOtnocSOO 


o3  N 
CD  01  0  fl  0) 

iil.2.2 


^     ^     C3     ^ 


>.3 


o  03 
5' 


as 


Eh 


{3  O  »H  o 
O  -»J  a;  "^ 

<!FlHtHS 


M  05 


01  M. 


•  0  fl 
•0  o 

:aa 


|--ga£js^= 


"3. 


IS  CI 


oi  3  n 


5Sm 


OS      OJ  o^  o^ 


<■ 


p. 


a  a  a 

03  o3  c3 
l-S>-5'-? 


OJCOW 


0-S  o^ 

OS  ir  c8  o 


0>     o> 


t 

CO 


0 


3 

•-5 


oi 

1-71 


05  O^  05  CO  00  00 


t     I 


> 


a>     00 a 00 00 00 00 CO 00         ^  <»     5^     ?2     ooooo0r^2<»5     t- 00 « co 00 00 co  00 00 


GQ 


"S  tu  o  u  p.  a^  5j 


a 

03 


1^ 


3 


O   O   QJ   V   <D   O   <B 


o-S  o  «  S  «  ca  *  3 


w 


iJt3 


HI 

o 


01   Q  '^ 

a-g'^a 


c3 
u 
u 

—  a 
00 


S 


S  a 


PQ 


M 


u 


tSK-* 


a   .  -is: 


5^-^ 


.2      Xi 


"■^gaa 


.«,   CQ   A  03 


S.2 

^^ 
01  o 

a  a 
a  a 

1-5  l-S 


M   03 
Wq 

3  01 

CO  I* 

01  ® 

t-5l-5 


a 

o 

a 

o 

1-5 


a> 

M  3 

H 

7^ 

at  fi 

S2 

^ 

C8 

a" 

<jpq 

S 

0 

^ 

CO 

oT  to 

tn 

a 

0,   0) 

® 

a  a 

a 

"o 

0  0 

0 

1-5 

'-s'-s 

1-5 

M-a^- 

William 
,  Emma 
,  Maud 

.a  a 

M    03    03 

2-73 -a 

U  u  i. 

000 

HsHjf-a 

a  :■« 
-Ph  S 
tj  -»  01 

,  ^1  03  "r 
^  01  j; 

■w  a-  2  >: 

-^  s  « 

>>  M  a  a 

^  n  CS   0^ 


a 


'^  o 

3^^S 
eQ  O  ^  .S 

M    .    .5 

siss  a 

-  -  01  0> 


a 


'^     2  a 

>^>^>;  .3 

tj'O'a  a^ 

01  o>  o^  o 

a  a  a  >»hB 

a  a  a  a  a 

Oi   01  Oi  Ol.i 


t^MMMMMMM^ 


236 


R 
O 

m 


I 


>.  a  M 
a  u  a  a 

g  5  S  g  t;  I  ij 
MQccfQQffilz; 


2. 


tD    » 
•  —    GO 


S 

<D 
U 

u 

c8  5j  w 

O     '■'     !K 


g 


£  S  o  ,;  h     <!  -S 


ftp; 


MM 


03  w  bn 


— ""  t. 


-a  c 


"O  «•-  «  C3i5 


!5 

o 

M 

-«! 

o 
o 


H 

A. 


to   0 


«.9  aji>  S  0) 


:S'a 


^  a 


=  ce  N 


o  (D  ®  S  S.S'S  o'2  «  o  S--  a>  S  o  c  <u  »  2  a  oii  a  s  e.9  <p  »  o  2  s  o 

jaoa'Siaaagsa-ooaSasaalg  al-s  gaasaa-aisa 

;r  O   03,1'  a)--."   O.-   O  O  C3.2   O  a   0--  O  O  J?--   O  O  =8;-  O  •-   O  O  O   *  S   O 


E  , „ 

.„oo3— oc8rroo3ii'<i'--."o.-ooc3.Soao:-'oo'?--oo=s--5--55o!«un3 


< 

iz; 


I 


to 


_   ■  CS 


a. 


I 


00    J,x23s 


p. 
0 


«  0)  03  ^ig 

02    Ofei-5-<3 


tJ)!>» 


pa 


^     ;2W 


«2  0)  ®     a 

.•2  M  IB  a 

a  o  !«  a*!* 

i     «5   - 

a  a"  .fl.2 
a  o  a  o^ 

.„       .5.-   O  03  C8 


0<5! 


tf. 


&( 


03;+j 


a  u 
S  a 
eg  c3 


bo  to 

a  a 


>•. 


u  t.'2  t.  a  =3 

tl  =8-5  03 


.SI'S     >1l>     3.£;.>'5  =  -3S 


►^  "  ^ 


—.2 

=  a 


(»~ 


5        =5 


"S  S3  t-   O  c3  c4 

c  o:^  3  0)  to 


Oi  Ol  Oi  05  rri  O) 
iH  iH  iH  r-t  J:!^  iH 


S  ^-2  2  fl  2 


a  fc, 


S 


OiQiOiOi 


a  c3v 


00„f~       t>OOOCooJ,QO        OO  00  00  00  00  O)  on  00       ooccl~oooooo 


OOCC  t^  X  00  00 


:  O  o 


a  d  o  *j'  ^  ^ 


>■     tjjj  >     >^^-^^A     *<"  ^<  ><'  d"  «  a'  — H-     M  -  -— —  ^ 


M 


cS 


«  =3  ^ 
Ojs-d 

om    - 
<1>    .  o 


a 


Kg 


W     OS 

?&  If 

03  cO  C8 


dS  a  (D  a  _ 

•S     .  cs'3  S-n 
o  «  o  >.  t-  •  - 

2  a-  t--*  - 

m  ?"r:  %  a.2 


237 


a 


.•C.2 

^    pq 


■•^ 


saj  i.P-1  o^  a  — 

03&,  ^.W<;q    . 
-a     ii    -         a 


m 


+-*   C>   '^  ^  -rt      * 

cc^  a'-^M'^ 
.«^„-^^ 

§-^=|^§ 
'h    . aj  a  t.Q 

^A     >     >     >     >     ^ 

o  o  o  o  o^ 


o 

M 

E< 

<! 
O 
O 
►4 


Si 
SI 


< 


55 


P--    CO   cc 

o  L,  oj 


O 


C3  P  ffl  „^ 

jj£  ja  >-  rt 

O"  »  ca  3^ 


M 

a 

p. 

sa    a 

o    ,s 

^     . 

^  »  fc, 

O 

o 


4 


o 

CO 


feiasw'5'a^^    " 


1  -^  oj  t: 


c« 


Is 

o 


I- 


ft-r.S£ 


■  s> 

60« 


o  o 

S  9  K  m 


O  OJ  00 

tijD  w  »* 't:  to  "^  aj 

^  w  .M  V  CO  00  cfi 


.c5 


a  ffl  5  ir,-^-^  2=  S  S  £  S  2  k  2'?i'5iS  S  S_3^  S-5  "-S  «  ®  ®  5 


«a^-2&&^ga  a  aaa  SaSoMa^s-S-Saa  s'ssasa  EH^^aa^a^a 

Sp^(liP^;z;^g<«KpiCiCi^0i«p50ig>(l,(l,rtf^0itHfeK0iOE-iSeME^C[3K;2;piSfiHQi 


C8     . 

-   3   C3 

3  M  <3 


®  oiJ  a>  S  " 


^  03 


go 

0)  3  M  (D.>;-- « 


55; 


tf!   t^  05 

t/;  to  «j  hfi 

"5  "3  3  ■■5 

0  o  o  13 

►h    S.  >H    -3 

01  0)  <B   S   .     _   , 

PP  3  «2v:2S 


bo 

"S 

3 


cS  M  e8  Wl 

-   c3  o3  C3 ."  3  ."  3 

o  c  o 

„  o  a  o 


L§S=S  a  g 


3  3  11  0) 


00      t-  t-ccoo  CO 


:  y,  S  0  c 


1-3 


00  00  00^ 


e^-^--- 


3 

CIS 


OS 

iHOC: 


03  Ol  OS  OS  Cl 


^, 


CL  C3 


^  a 


00  CO  CO  2  00  00  CO  00  00  00  oo  J,   cccooo 


rnr^rH^HjHi-I.Hr'S 


^  a  ^c  V■^J  >>i  >  >  >i  >i  tm  >> 


O  0^c3 


feOfiOi-si-5<        OOSti*    OK;Sa20§:2;;z;:^^<u;^    izilz;^ 


J3 

.2  E 


CO    CO 


",aj3 


§  t:  S?  y  <u  aJ  S 


^^l.'?.^^ 


O  S  es  cs 

^;  CJ  o  o  o  tO 

cfl  03   c8   rt   C3   C3  O 


Ja-^l 
>>  >i  >i'3 

C3  c3  C3  O 

Oooo 

o  c:>  o  u 


:pQ- 
a-a  a 


1-3 


gs;^sasa     ass3 


'^*^'-^  csj:;  ca  o 

-e  — s           -H 

a  a  a  c-S  M   . 

E  a  a.S  c3  o  >, 

0)  O  O  C   >  "^  Oj 

cj  c  o  o  u  ;j  o 

SgSSSSS 

238 

C3  <l>—     • 
3J3^       ^ 

=eo      >;o3 

_  ^  ^  ^  ;2 
c-  o  o  03  03 


a 


« 


w 


ft;> 


0)  a>> 
en  ,a  ^ 

flat!; 
Ill 


bo 

a 

ca  i;  a 


•    (4    h 


Oi    -ocoos 


^    •  fl  faja 
»    •  ca5j» 

riiT 

00  00  00  |>  t- 


S  O   3  O  D 


'■<6 


life 


•§|s  a| 


a  a  a 


„  „     a  oj 

^  cQ  cs  ca  cS 


a 


O 
02 


o 

M 

Eh 
■< 
O 
O 


!2! 


■< 


05 


O 


„  C8 


-  .S2 
E  —  is 

m  0)  - 

£  "  c 
t:  =3  - 

S  t.  o 


ficc 


a 
'.So 

CO    U3 

>.  t< 


SI 


a 

.2 

'■♦J 


•a  M 


•♦J 


a 

o 


OQ 


■-      !?  ^  o  _  *-!  W  bti:  a5)!3     <^5     '^to'^ 
^?  .  •  i^  "S -s -r        .  c  »;  t;  o -e  o     -=  «    .-e    ■ 


a  c 

.=  0  0) 

Co     W     a  ta  c 

m  CO  d  o  ^ 


<U  *co 

OQ  CB  Q  pJ  <  02  P^  pL,  K  E^  •<  M  <;  ^  fa  pL,  Iz;  02  «a;  M 


O  to 


be 


a  "3 


a 

o 

C3 


a 
;z; 


.a 

A 

a 
u 
ta 
n 

a 


m 


CO 


CO 


•  0J_ 
"S  as 

>    QJ    0;  _ 

bQSo2SS<)-5;fa 


O    ' 


id  SB    . 

B  a  i: 

o  aS 

a  a  „ 

o  o  a 

o 


^    O   o    f 


>1 

IS 


05  OS  00  00  OS 


C3   S 


OS 


00  00  00  00  ~S  "^  00  00        _ 

iH  iH  jH  rH  r' r' r' r*    3 


•  *i  «  , 


a     X"^  su!  I.  a,  B  i;  •- 
3     a,»5S-«rE«a 


Ml 

I 
09  ' 

a' 

a 


a 


'.<m 


05   '-I   ^  .     U 

a-j:  2'j:  ji  g 

cSi  —    c3^-2    O 

-  -  -a"  -73    z 

O    O   I;    53    O    t.    l.-      _ 

08  c3  c8   a>  ■—  •—  — '  •'- 


a 


C3 
O 


=3     '■<=*     •« 

Add 


caaSls 


I«   C    2   CO    CO 

>  >  c  o  5;  o  o      > 


to   o 


-       o^f-S-c- 


O     «     tn     « 

h   I-   eg  1- 


-    -  -  .«   t-  'O 

-  ,^   ^'   jj   13  •—   s   ^         ^ 


ft 


Eh 

9        rH 


00  0)0) 
iHy-I  iH 


cu 

a;     . 


>   >  -li   U   t-    '3   >" 

O  o  «;  <u  ^^  rt 


-»     -iJ  Ma 


PHig- 


cS 


PQH&^ 


>« 


,  w   03  w  -^   C 

•-     '  !<i  .2  bo  a  s 

....        i"  m" 

o)  oj  a»  a*  ^-'—  .ii 

*M  ;-  t.  1-  0^  a.  j-i 

o  o  o  o  t.  v.  t- 

o  o  c  o  o  o  o 


239 


w 


.n  a 


«  ai 


P^  a; 

>'.    . 

"  ^  u. 
>  O 

o  %- 
N  a 
o  = 
(-  a 


II 

ca  . 

X 

0/  a; 


sla 


oj  0^  .^  .;=^  —  o 

a;2;;z;;z;^;z; 


S 


OOOOOJ       o> 


J2 

a> 


<s 

»-5 


j-Hj-H^^jHrH^    -H    2 ^ r' r' ^ ^ '^ S 5^ r' '^ r^ r'    r' 


P9 


■  a   r/X   B  o 


C3 


<S 

a 
a 


a 

03 

a 

O 


O 

M 

m 


o 

M 
< 


•A 

Eh 

P. 
ft 


a 

»! 
a 


ca'^i-t 


5  §5 


60 

P. 


o 

o 


to 

c3j3 


.2  a 

to  oj 


2-S>" 


CO-- 


5*- 

s  ^ 

a  ^ 
o  o 

f  a 

0)  . 


>4 


o 

a 
■a 

»s    . 

0)    0) 


o  o      .2 


.a  Of 


..  „ <u.a 


P  o 


■^     jj     t.  tc  a 

,tL>  ^^  u:  >)  a;  QJ  cd 

a  a  a;g  ^oioi-^ 

5^5  <i  ■<  O  M  CC  W  ■< 


d 

a> 

mf^ 

OS 

u  o 

o  a 

p<cs 

M  t; 

.•  ^<  o 

a. 2 

t-  P<  t. 

t,  m 

s  a'r 

H<! 

mmC 

©  s  ©  ©  ®  ©.S  ?^©a©©©©©© 


© 

a 

«        -2 

©©OOOO©©©©©©©©©© 


©  w  ©  ©  ©  ©."  r!©a©©©©©©art*-'^^'^ooo©©®©©©©©©© 

asaagas©a-caaaaaaaaSs  as-s-s -s  aaaaaaaaap, 

oaoooo-^'^oaoooooo—  ©.Sooosacaooooooooocs 


cs 


©  >  ©  -< 


,a 

>  a  a 

Is 

<!PhO 


bo 


M 


fl   "5   ".2     3 

'?  _i  -^    (11    _J 


■■3  _,  a  —  M  «  =1 

„aa30£82rt©^ 


-    a  03 


saowa 
a  g.2 

_  '-D  'cc  ^ 

•3as.2 


o 

©    ©.-    © 

aa§;a 

o  o  K  o 


5^.§ s  g  s  2  S.2  g-g  a„ 


-^  *^  •--:;  UH  .-^  n  ;.r  L-  •  ■?  • -^  2i  :^  -^  ?f  :^  isH  'i  , 


a. 2 

a'd 
E-i-i) 


OOCT)00   a  ^  CO  0» 


CO  05         00 


9  a 


ft 


I   '-5 


05  05 


^  Oi         0505  OS 
<^1H         iHiHrH 


00  5 1- oi  00  00  CO      OccScc^SooxoOqL 

'-' -     r' "^ --I  rT*         "H  rH  .     rH  ;-!  ;-!      •      ■ -•  ^ 


©  a 


©  ©  © 


00  05  05  05  05 


®J5©S^ 


s>  a 


©  cd 


feMqa^<j^-= 


;2ii-,jiQO-a)W(iiOS 


o  o  a  c3 


.  o 
OOPh 


H 


pq 


c3 


a 

03  o3  C3 

P-iruPM 


p. 
©^ 

O  CS 

>-5J3 

©  © 

03  05 
PhAh 


.^"d 


a  03  o 


A    X' 


.£?*i     t."  >  u  >  >  a,o^'  t<  Jh  vh  ©.S" 


&(     >qo     <);2;<i!g;^i-5fefe<j<D<!fii-5 


©  © 

oo 


,-  o  ^. 

^  cf2  a> 

o3  ctj   ^ 

114A4PH 


■n  a 


al 

OSP-I 


^  03 
03    " 


K 


^a" 

03;2   =8 


^-v  «i  j3  "r*  "2 


j,l-5<J 


© 


Wga 
J.2  w~S   ■ 


fL| 


-  I  in  ■-  , 

I  a  0.0?  o 


240 


^    .   ^    ,'XK  u 
1=  =  =  Cr^M  «.2i;ii    -to- 
t^  t«  S  M      _-  £,  Si.  fc.  Si,  I-  ■-  © 

o3  c3  c3  C3  4S  aaaaa^tH^^ 
©©©©©©©©©©©©© 

PhPhA^C^P^PhPhPhP-iPhFLiFMPu 


a  a 
o  o 

CO  to 

SB 
©  © 


© 
u 
o 


°0  <^  00   rriOO    00  00  00  t- 00  00  00  00  00  cx)  00  t- 00    __    00 

r'r'iH  1-1'-'  r'r'r*r*r''-''-'r'r''-'r''^r'  33  r* 


a 

1-5 


fl 

i 


© 

P4 


n 
m 


o 

M 

E- 
<! 
O 
O 
1^ 


a 


3 
SQ 

P, 

O 


o 
hi 


tr 


Oi 

a 

SB 

O 

d 


.2     S 

.a  o ' 


s 


:3.>: 


o 


o 


cj 

►^  tbg   O  =3   S  M  ._         _ 

a  .93-2-;5  S  ?>  ts  p  S  ™ 


S   I-   g  <0 


I  a  S 


;o  ca 


^2       3.=,mt2=J355i^3^o=lMOr!3S--^« 


d 
.§ 

IS     *- 

©  ert  i  »  o 

2  £  <D  Wis  £ 

^«G.^  j3  ©  3 


&X)  s  ^  o 

.saga 

o  o  o  o 


o      a* 

S  "On 


« 

GO 


— «  3  ^ 
O  *H  " 

■3^  a 

®  3-3 


©f3a>ci.9a>da)§a)©(i)5©a)c3t<a>M 

gs^SaisaaoaSaaa-Sasagso 

0-3.3  :«:-;•"  OcsoCoootaoo  o.S  o  o 

cr3  0S2;Sc^e5HfiS<!««tf(ii«iyc3J«n 


>a 


(s  "  ■  ;  "  o 

O    ■    •    .      d 


09 


GQ 

o      o 

35  3 


a_o_o 

—       -^3  3 

d  u  „  a  u  o 


sSSalSilaiSsala 


.o  ®.;2--:  g.S  fe  g.Q.C-^^  tj.Srt'a  a  =  '3-'5'3  ^ 


°o  d 


Q    i? 


Ah 

a 

o 


a, 

Oi  fl  Oi  c 


0)  .•  a  " 


05  O) 


II 


05  00  Oi  Oi       Oi       Oi  Oi  00 


A  fc  fci  a 

o  o  ftts 


J3.0  si 

a;  (u  S 


•a 

03  "2  "o 

o  a  o 

3       3-« 
o  u  O  OS 

3   3  ^  ffl 


pm' 


p. 


eoo  rtOi 

•^  .-  d 


00  oiOO  i> 


Oi*'"      ai'X>tr-xit~     Qo^OgsooXxoooooo  xccoocoO      00      oocoqooo  oo      ciXm"*' 


t.     tH    -te 


w 


rj    >.    O    W  O  ^    i  XJ  -W    ^    ^    ^    ^*    cJ    O    a    h*  ^    O 

a>0<uJ5a)      o^9>oaa>00,ai*cg0i0'i' 


a  >■  ^<*  o  o  a  h*  ^  o     ^ 


02 


a.S;'  a'  ^ 
=3  3  a  3 

l-5»-5l-5-<n 


« 


w 


CO 

«  >»  5p  t-t 
•r"  ;h  ^  o 

3 -^  ^5 


.ii^a 


M 


w 

«  o 


WiJ 


a^«       - 

3  «:  ■*^*^  3 
^  cc  CO  C8  O 
■  -   O  O  fc.   fc. 

PhPhI^PmP4 


-^ 


•.-3 

«  a'* 

cal"*  ■ — ■ 

"MOT. 

s  fi  <1> 


CJ  — 


PnfiJfi^ 


13  ^  Oi  <D  O 

tfi  yi  ua  c3  fl 

^j  3  rt  H  y  w 

33   c3  c3  93  ^  cS 


.•3 


_c5« 

EtJ'— '  to  CO 

3  -2  S  .; 

nS  a  «'3 
c3  a  k.  o  o 

0)   0)  o  .^  . 


d 
> 

w 

m 

gg 

o 


n 


d^  a. 2 

a  uss  ® 
2:2"  a 

-  o  o  a 

OT   :«  tc   o 

(-  I-  t<-5 

13  re  o  g 

r-     ^     r-     O 

Cj   o  o  *^ 


241 


w 


a 
a 

•-5 


•a 

o 


c  >.  ti  g 

"""ga 

CO    W    K   o 

*^  -t^  -t^  en 

i"  IH  IH  a 
O  c  o  o 


M 


m 

ft 


a 
> 


< 


a 
o 


a  :3 


•Id 


(3  d 

03^ 


<;« 


u 

c 

r— I  »— »    t- 

o  u  o 


« 

m 

e 
w 


.  <B 

"?:  3-:*1S  "  o  g 


,i4 

o 
&: 

S'cS 

2  fci 

■■^  s 

ji  » 

'-'2  0 

W    «    M 

Q    ID    «J 


O 


w 


u 
o 

1.1 

0) 

©OQ 

"it; 

«  o 
«a2 


o 


.«.3   OS 
tUlQ, 


"       <8  eS 

ft  t,T3  ti   htS 
03  ^  C3  03  cS  fl3 


>  O'^g  S  °  o  s.! 


3'a  3 i;  a;-^ 


02QcO<)SPHMSpL,S<j!»E-i-5&^Mfi<)K<! 


1-5  © 


>-  ^?  fc,  .  ft 

cS  C3  c3     .   (D 
00  t_  00  t~  00  00 '^  2  00 


ft 

-5! 


g  tH  j^  t,  cs 

S  C8  !-  «  u 

o  -^  -o  ;=  ■'J 


■5« 


05  05  Oi  Oi  o^  oc  o^ 


fl  ^'  fc  b  a  c  fc.' 

c3  0)  ftj«  c3  -  ft 


oicioo     oi     o>05     0005 


o  Ml 

9<) 


C0t_oo  t^oooo^^oo  00  CO  CO  00  00  00  cc  00  00      ^t-aoa 


fSt-ooaooo 


t.'  « .^  >  >"  d'  b  fa  b 

ftoT3oOl2='3o3o3 


■.2C 

-    -    -O 

aiSg-3 


•3  0)  o  o  O^  3  S  " 


2  03(1, 


ME-i'^  °i-^  »w^  ft 


02 


flat  -i^-s  1: 

«  «j  '^^  O  t- 
o  o  o  o  o  o 


o  o 


^-^ 


c3  a  o 
m  tfi  xfi 
000 


.t;  (I 

pqti 

u 

.2 1 

S     «  ca 

^ii  at-  3-3 
5^3  S.°  3^^ 

<a>  CJ  w  :ft  J3  > 

M    CO    K'     03  .*^    r- 
000000 


»  ft  a> 
oOool- 


fts  > 


^J5 


o  © 


t*        0000        00  00 


Oh 

bi  ? 

Ok"-; 
0"-'  S 

=2  O 

?i  CO  ca 
o  3  >, 

242 


ft"   C8 


l~n 


m 


!Z2 


^l<l%  < 


fl-g 


^i^.a^-d" 
•-    ^  s  ■= 

cl  •-  o  o  — ■ 

•r*  £3  03  CO  V 
pHOOOQOQaj 


:m 


»4 

to 

ca 


.0^ 


oi  3    ^33 


»4 
V 

03 


o 

d  V 


•a 

d 

OSOQW 


-s^  ca 

■2    if""" 
cc    c5oQ 


■d  03 

WW 


WW 


o 

M 


QQ 


o 
03 


(4 

o 

o 


5.9 

.  O 

u  o 


o 


,9    ^ 


.2 


O 


® 


0) 


fl.S  o 

0)    »    « 
B   3  S 


>  ®  a  S  r^ 


"   »  S   t3 


o 

tH 

■«! 

o 
o 


Eh 

E< 

H 


a!  c3 

._  3  3  L 


a 

3  « 
o 


'=0  ■^t>  05 


o  o 

S  =S  r   al 


Vi    O) 


eS  Ox!      _ 

tC  Q    ^    K  .2 

■5  o  m  S  'o 

M  0'«  3  O 


no's  '-I  "> 


a 

d   OQ 

.2  lu      o 
s-a  P.03  £ 
—    .  3  »  s 


O  u  b  'w 


!.«■-—,-■  -^M   ■— -      '^     ^LT     fj      ZJ     l^*      W 


fiO 


o 

9=3 


a'g 


.9  =3 

a. 9 

t4    cc 


0  ©  ©  a> 

a  a  a  a- 


:!zi 

©  o  © 

a-sa 

o  a  o 


S 


(V, 


P 


4  I 
I    I 


3 

o 

© 


;  >  ©^ 


■O  >   © 


^-^^  © 


a3©3<©©c3©©cs 
►^  fe  <!  pt(  fe  g  tH  f^ '^ 


a  ciCi     Oidd 


i;  fc.'  a       i;^  fc.' 

J3  c3  «        *  ©  ea 

S§7    Sfeg 


I 


CO      t-      0000      t- 00  X 00 00 -is  ~  00 00 

>H        IH         rH  "H  «5  r-l  rH  rH  rH  rH  ;^  r' rH  rH 


OJOOOOOO        2 


SxS53      sisSS?   ?r3 


■3    © 


a  >  -J  >  a  >  2"  S"-!-;  b  >  h 

S  O  :j  O  S  O^  «  Ul5^J2 


» 


» 


<s 

cS 

00 

h 

■3 
0 

CO 

ij 

6:" 

"© 

a 

CQ 

CQ 

« 

a 

a  • 
a.sa 
©  bi  ^ 

©■3 


« 


H 


"Ha"  a 

CO  a  a 
s.a  a 
a.n  E. 
©  ©.C7 

CQOQCIS 


'3      -fe  © 
a  m  >,  M  © 

j3     -  2  3 


w 


©1^ 


■ao 

.  a 
©  o  ^-x  ^    . 

N  a j;:* U) tua 

3  e-J  3  3  a 


i"  ©  t* 
i  a  t; 
s  a  © 


>  > 

o  o 


m-2 


;  M^ 


o  a  o 


H 


C3 


i^di 


n  -.  a  a 
g.S  ifM 

-1  i  a  c3 


m 


©  © 
a  a 


a 


a 


o  © 


Kjsa  K?^>j^-w 


j=.a£     .Of  ^.a 


a  a  a 


aaa  a 
243 


■*-  ■•.J  S    J-    N 

•5--  ©  a  e> 

a  a  a  a  a 


1-2aQ|s 
i3  S  S,  c=  -a  a 

.   -     >    ^" 

*--^_r      2    - 
©  o'a      a  «j 

to  o  !-  iT  ©  a 

T   —  C3   ©   a  > 


■^"w 


a  I.  (H 

a  ui  a 
X  a  © 

swa 

o  .^ 

.•502 

ag   - 


OQCOWCISOSCQ      CQGQOQ 


O 
> 

w 


"A 
O 

M 

< 
O 

o 


-< 
A. 


5»  f' 
Sop  S 

S  O   .    o3  S 

I        fl       ^^^1^  St     0    '^^  1'^    s    t    ^ 

|«Sd    :§       11222^1    2    ^         |l|52i    |£l|2       ^       I 
■M^-' S     too     ti     ooo'::;^     o     ^®  --^  hctj   •_«     o-oo®     r3®     ■" 

■<-<WO    Mlz;    <!(i(a2a3CBm<i    co    wlz;        pt,  gx;  Q  O  o  O -"il  Q  <J  fe  02  ^z;    oq^    -^ 

; c5  ■  ■  ■     ■     !■■;;■     i  ■  ■  i  ■  ■  ■  ■ 

<B   0  S  a  0)  fl  g » o  o  o  g'.s  i);s  <D  2|  rt  g ;3  g|  g  c  o  §  fl  g  g  s  s's's  s  g  <c  S  <D 
a    a  ij-n  a  ^-S  a  a  a  a  §  g  a  g  Sa  Sis  §  a  g  S  I's  1-2^2  aSgaagSaaga 


fa 


<1 


M 


^^  o  ^^ 

p-  OS  t.   C3 


c9 


3  — 


a  ■  a  ■  a 
000 

•^  wi  '^  tn  '^ 
C3  'm  c3  c/5  ^ 
^1   O  ^  O  ^^ 

«    ^    W    3    M 

'a^a^'a^g 


O 


£> 


>  5 


P. 

1 


u  a 


CO   o 


>. 


3         ^ 

2  «!  «  S,  S 
S  o  (u  5f.- 


fl  a 
.2.2 

IS  C3 

b  It 


>>2  2-" 

K.2     55.2.SS 

ia-'gsaa^ 


05 


0  C^      O)      o^  o 


«  9 


>-5 


*7S 


i;  S  «'  > 

■381-5)2; 
r   I    I    P 


>  .Q  ^'  -S  >  .Q 

o  0)  (u  r-  o  0)1 


Till  TiiTTi 

oooooot-oooo      00      oDoo  oo'5°°co     oococOt:.oc^ 


4J  ^    «    U  4J 

O    CD    <^    1^    O    ^ 

OfM0QO<) 


»-5l-S 


0> 

o 


o 


o 


^1 


W 


I'd       . 

a-a 


CM  0) 


pa 


-_  a 

>3 

x: 

o  o 


3  >:  a 

-  x  u  S 


0) 

a 

0> 


s'  fe  §  >  ft  sf 

-<"«!t-s!z;cB<. 


iu' 


'-s  as  pJ 

3  3  3  ?:_03 


■.H 
■5      «  2 

<v  o 


"tS  o 

S  «  S 


CD       OQCC      OCDQ  CQ  OQ CQ  02 02  E-l 


a 


244 


t-  t-  I-  ^1 
o  o_o_o 

t-*  >%  ^  >» 

r3  c3  ce  c3 


P5 
p.. 

03   c3    ^ 


« 


.X-^  to  eS 
oT   .      >H 

a  c  M  2 

E->EHtHH 


o 
■.2'-S 


<35O5<3)00       00  O)  05  00  00  0>  >-<       00 


1-5 


1 1 

oijooSS 


-  .  *3  +a 
il-"  &  P, 
OJ   O   OJ   03 

feOoQm 


So  '=.=2 

-fi  o  o 

TO   O   to   t» 
66  to  ^  p, 

aaa  a 
0000 


03 


!5 
O 

M 
f 
< 

o 
o 


Z 

■< 


H 


c 
> 


525 


»»  *  9 


^4 

u       *<^  SI'S 


® 

03 


02P«a3^E-i<J<O 


43    O) 

(u  a, 

mm 

CQ    Co    V3 

mm^ 


p< 

83 

O 

d 


a  03-S  C  ti  eS 

i-  t.  ::  I'-o 
«  o  -»  S-  h  ^-,  V 


1 !;  f=  fl 

1  *  ca  3 


c4  5" 


o 


to    y; 

52 


O  o  S  ®  Oj 
O  a  i;  is  t^ 

«  u  g  s  a 


o  o  c 
o  M  J. 


03 

d 
o 


W  CO  -^ 

Sw  Si." 
■~       J.  m 


■53  =8 

ce      c 


Pfi 


OflSO^OOOOOOMjS--c8oOOOOO«aj.__^ ,. 


c3 

d    d  C8  rf!    d"rt 

.      3    O   11    (B    »   2    t£.S    O   <C 

SB  a  e-oae  aa  c^aee 


V  V  o 

o  5  s 


d    >< 

©  *J    SO  ^^ 


O)  O  QO  X  C>  003  03  O)       C) 


■^"^■■^  Md  is  ^'  o  ti' 
«T;  =•=  S>g  «  03  a 


iH_j.      ._d«^      .1—4 ■         —i  I  ^i 


b  c  ^-c  ^dcad,^      >>d 

S i-s ^ fe O t-5 ►-}  1-5 h,    ;z;;z;i-5 


i^ 


d 


w 


o  ^  „ 

i;-d  2  -S 

r^  g  =  =^ 

fajsffl 


a-  i:---d 
g  o!  (u  »  a 

S    ©    CO      ,   t, 

0)  -j;  d  u.  *i 

7"  2  ^  <l^  'O 

O  o  o~.5 


W  d<S 

=8     . 

1;  £  o 
I.  E:  i< 
oj  ^  d 

d  d  d 

<«  C3  O 


d 
o 


a 

< 


tJJ  C3 

d  H 


t.  03  d-g 

03  o  3.? 


Oi   CA   CO 

H  o  o 


03 


d  d 


>   ?^    O  — ^ 


d    u    ll    «   TO   02 

•  «    T?    ^    rti   (11   fli 


^"     L-     Lj     VJ     WJ     «^ 

E  s;  fe  £  £  £.•=.•= 


'«J3    d 


o  o  c  >  >- 


■<f  PoQCCajCoE-'b 


CO 

d 

~  01. 


>?3 

OS 


p. 


0500Q0C500OO05 


!-■  d  g  d  "'j3XJ  >-■ 
»SdS;s^©o=8 


^'  c   ^  ^' 


0)0) 


p.  08 


00      t- oc  ("■  ■~"  °°  ^ '^  00  00      °°  00  00  00  (i:  00  t- oij  00  00     ob  t- 

iH        ;H  ^  rH  T-l  rH  iH  rH  iH  ,-1        J^  t-(  rt  i-l  rt  f^ '"' "H  iH  JT*        >-<  f^ 


'   =*   "   «   c< 


1^    ^-i     ^      "^     .^     _j    l_l     _a   ■•-'  1_L   **     >■'     '>*  •♦-•     _r    —   ■»-'  ■**    kJ 

oooa.«=52au       SjiUQjaiodaJooS 


«  o 


8 

02 


55 

o 

Hi 

o 
o 


ft 


P 


08 

"  o  Ja  o 


»-.£; 


O- 


r  o 


-tiO"^ 


(c  <o  t«  ^: 


0)  a>  ^  o)  «j  M       h 


u 

■»    "S-S 
2  M 


(A 

K 


o  a> 
®  CD  5-     -  o  fi-g  C 


o 
CQ 


o 


S  §   fl    (D    ©   © 

p<a'>^  H  a  a 

£4  ©  J3.2  O  O 


g 

©  ©t3  «  °  o 


0>oi_i  00  OS 

i-liH.    r-liH 
•     •  ^^   .J  J 

tit-'*  t-ccoo 


I 

o 

©  a 

-*^ 

«t3 

bua 

^« 
'»  _ 

Q  ^ 
k,     "^  2 

^   2a 

p.      ^  C8 

h2"S"s 

bbea  «  J)  5 
is20<<!o 


'S'd 


^ 


.  a 
•.2 

.    CO 

g     .  M 


.H  »  S  » 

-  p  ■♦J 


"«!Qfib^o2EHa2 


cm 

.g 

a 
-no 


05 


ODt-tL 


IS  o  a  o  P  ^ 


!;  '^ " 
«  w  © 


CO 

aa  a 

e8  cj  cj 


CJ 


(^  o  d 

top3  hr 

C3    CB      - 


i^«^ 
■^'^1 


00 


OS 

© 
'*© 

0 

a;  ojQ   .  © 
OQfl<)CC 


S  ©  03  03 
^'7 '7 


III    ^1 

oOoncooo      t>co      oboooow     ^oo 


,     ^1 

00  00  00  W 


©        •  t.. 


>■»     ci  H  a  fe 

O  o        OS  0!  03  _» 


PPPI?^ 


-©O 

do  dW 

-"f, -ditit  . 

•g  ^;0  d  o  d  d  >. 
2  ©  .tnj2  t.  t<  © 
S  e -a  "B -d  13 -a  s 

l.l§§§8§§ 


© 


^K 


246 


^SK£ 

•i^  -i^  '*^ 

bo  tij  tjofl 


**-<    Qj  43    *-•    O- 

p. 

d  <£ 

h  C3 
O  U 


«5 

h 

.t4 

li  Pi 

©  © 

litO 

«  -, 

:3^ 

m 

•  d  ©  g  5  o  ©  ©  d  ®  ©  3  a);9.S  ©      ©o 

aj^s'dSaa-Eaa-da'2'Si    gl 

oa  «©03OoOdOOcaOca  cs  d     55 


.   CS 

5oo 


^1 


■Sil 

_• « 

g  ® 

K  . 

tug 
o  o 


M 

M 
M 

o 
12; 

Ph 
P^ 
<1 


o 

m 
< 


o    ■ 


M 


u 

M 

^    OQ 


fl   t£  to 

«  ^  i5 

I.  3  3 

El  CO  2; 


„         (8        J5   13 
Q  +a  -*j  -w  r;?  ♦J 

"^  M  0)  M  55  oj 


I 

a  2  =3.^ 

-^^     "^ 
«  d'Se 

"S  ^  t-  fci 

J2  13  05  S 


SCO 
O  O  OS 


4 

o 
d 
a 

CQ   u 


I 

o 

a. 


id 

o 

M 

<! 

o 
o 


t-  5. "  t-  fc.  ^ 

•  -  >>  o  >>  >-  a;  oj  <ii 

J  E-i  02  E-i  E-i  CO  02  h 


o  u  5 


'UM  2- 


03  b 

65 


u 

CD 

n 

(U 
h 

S**^  ? 

C3   —    > 

2  — 

^  w:  c 


o 
d 

d—         2 
O  O  o  o  o  c  o 


Eh 

Cm 
H 


m 


•d 

•  o 

■  t< 

^  d 


■w  a 
—  .2  m 
g  d  « 


C3 

d 


a 

g 


W  d 


■d 

d 

<£   C3 
';2    M    « 


9  •- '-S  ° 
*—  2s 

a  :j  d  r; 

p<  s8  ee  cS 


ga 


OS 

o  o  d 
a  d 


^  d 

at; 


wo 


« 


a; 


*j<i  fc.  2  (- 

^.'^s    _    ►<    0 

q  CI  a  o  Ci 

a  a  J-  j^  -3 

o  OT  Si's 
t  t  —  .-  o 


*^  o  ja»rt 
a. 2  ft© 

a=fe;S 

C   OJ  c  oj 


,0 


4)    CD 

?a§"o-- 


S  S  §S=  E-  S'5)S  S.S-5S  £  g-ji.S  a  a  a  a  a 
o  o_  >  >  a  «  o  a;|ac.a  a^  >*o  <i.t:.— .—  .s-aa 


d 
Eh 


MSB    ■ 

a  a   • 


cso  a  03  a  a 

cod  c  d  a 

3 S ••?.-=  .-a -^S  o.-=:^:=:r  =  ;g  g  gs.-g 


^t3 

a  « 


-d 

^^  t*-   i^   G^   Qj  r 


t>  >  t- 


d 

03 

2fe 


■0 


C3 
03  d 

P  >- 

-t  o    . 


«j  c._ 


u  bo 

d  a 

fla& 

a  3  e8 

o  c-S 


M  :  -^ 


d    . 

03     . 

v>  • 

03     • 
Eh    • 

osdn' 


00 


CO  .^  O     ' 


•  d 

-.6 


•5g 


QJ'd 

^  a 

2".  .2<!h5 


w . 


d 

a 


'-'    d 

£w 

d.„ 

03    N 
ti    N    (jj 

'^    tt  — 


S  .=  ._-0  M 


i'!Z- —  *^ 


C3   =5   «    i 

247 


iL    _  "-■  t-i    "-    O 


i.2§^ 

^     Ih     ^     to 

V  o  li'  a; 


a-  a 

o  *"  " 


5  ^  u  o  o  1 

r  t-  CO  o  t 

£■   rt  t-  K   K  •■ 


£isa 

^   ec   e8  e8 


I 

a 


o 

o 
n 


a 


o 


S 

9 

a 

■s 

a 

cS 

d 
o 
w 


o 


:^ 

.2 « 

•—.    OQ 

O 

09   U 

TO 

(D  a) 

a  o 
c  0^ 


3    L, 


05 

.5  o 


OS 


OS 

a 


o 

m 


=1 


"^  ;^  sa 
*>  ?  S 

•^  £.2 


CO      d 
o 


o 

M 

Eh 
< 
O 

o 

i4 


5 

00 

o 

1^ 
3  O 

'co 

« 
^ 

g2i 

o 

4) 

0.2 

C3  p 

'Is. 

0) 

"1  '^ 

=  a 

fc,l3 

itor 

work 

work 

.  (U 

O  C3 

c:  © 

s  =« 

■s^ 

*^  hft 

^  o 

.2  ^  j;  ri  2  C^  la  2 .2  -« -^ 
p.g  £-3  ^  08  3  G  o  o-g 
>,0-S.S  Kja  ^H  o  o  o  aj 

9 


a 

CO  ^ 

ii  " 

O   O) 


^  o  ca 

"m'5  b 


CO   .rH 


4> 


0.5 

CO  68 


(B 


«5 


a>«f-i  o 
>H  2  a 
c8'p  a; 
b>  -^  +^ 


O  CO 
92 


®:2 

'"   OS 


°5  rrJ 


55 


*:*  bs  ^  ^ 


0 


^1 


a  a 

C8  C8 

pqfQ 


C3 

O  c8  O  g 

©—  »-'  2  §  ''"d  d  — iJ  mS  "> 
s  —  ■e-::5ocaa5-;-'SE5Sd 


ca  TOCO       05      '-'a)'*'ca'^_._."^iia 

o  33  d  ©  d  ».S  <B  d  il  "  d  <u  a>— h.2  d  ^^  "3  — ,2  mS  2 

as'£:a'ng^a«"d"d«'sa'3'Sd'T3^j2^g2"Sfo§ 


o 
d 
:3  d 

<5§ 


(8 
e  a>  d 


d 

d 
a  DO 


d  h 
«  dT3  ® 


«      d 
gnsd.-: 


tifcoTS'SoHftwiHood 

,2,2  c3c8(ijOOc84io=3caO 

&<  fe  Eh  CM  CO  Oh  as  Z  02  M  ti  00  C3 


® 

^       .    CO 


d 


A    DQ 


S.t-a't 


i53<! 


h  C8  C8 

ca 


» .>  ■§  S  .£;  ij  .£;  .E; -S  S  ^  .S  •- °  .S 


^1— '  ^^ 

Ih    C8   03 

.=        e3  «  o 
,rt  2^  "U  lU 


2  d  a 

S  2  d 
2  SI  o 
a  d  d 

a  CO   C3 

Goo 


"aJ'd  5 
--      '^ 

o  a>  o 
d  acu 

cO  ^  4 


CO    ^    gg    o 

<^    -   -J5  «  2 

•32-2*   - 
g§.9.Sfc2» 

o-d  &  ft  *-  <u  cc 
QiU  t~i  u  U  aa  txi 
cfi  c6  cO  c6  cQ  cS   03 


S 


d 


r 

— -J^  9 

S  d  ra  o 

0  CO   >  o 

8  c8  tf  o 
JOOO 


C3 

d 
d 

Q+a  « 
uni 
aj.-. 

!•£&< 

Co  4) 

248 


=>  2 

^ti  CO  =8 

,A  ^  >-'  d 

<X)   CO  >.^^*' 

■^=8^2 


o 

as 

■a   035« 


,dO : 


C8 

c8  d 


,H 


•2rt' 


.s  o  o  o 
OOOO 


3-5^d 


=«  S-9g  M 
d  .2  M  a  5 


«  S  o  « 


CO  CO  »  o  g 
'm'co'S   g.& 

o  o  o.2.'3 

pqmwOfe 

O  fl>  <U  O  tt> 

fifiOOA 


d 
o 
O 


> 
a 

08 

a 


& 


9 


> 

02 


3 
o 


At 

u 

o 


o 
03 


u 

^  CO 

«  o  a 
«■£  ® 

d  S.2 
g;>'0 


^  S 

§5 
^« 
*  o 

to  « 

«  ^  ^  ~irt 


o 


i^  ~  a) 


^  rt  «3 


C3  I- 


C4 

o 


o 
v. 
<:> 

a  t:  ^'*-' 
«  =8  o 

'    -    *^   (h    w 


« 


>  S  o  — 

■ills 


1-     C'2*3  ^     ^     in 

-^  M  »  »  ce  =s  o 

o  «  «  3  s  E  W)a)T3 

£  S  ^^  ►>  §  5^-5  t-'S 


a-- «:0 


« 


o 

M 

■< 

o 

o 


■£.9®g»3§»gSSfls 


a« 


o 


» 


3  »  to  ° 

"  b  OS  ^   a  5  '^ 

<;|2;e-,jo;z;eh 


03 

u  m 

O    QQ 


(9  ce 
a  a 


©• 


o.S  S  «  o  S5  o  o  o  a 


d«-^S'^a>a)flo2d(og 

o  S  i  £>S-'«  t  a^c  gJS  a  2 

5—  3'3>Ocaoo;^^aj.-?;;::o.o 


a  a 


d 


c8 
_  3 
l-"^   o 

C8   C3   03   C3 


o 
«  d  d 


Pd  ai^',dja©©a) 

o-sa£-«saas 

-  o  «  >3.  o  qS 


atfosSaiekS(aEE52o&^SE-i^;<Jffla,tHciS>ciiSc2>«^Kc^titH;5p^2;<;s^fijp;[i, 


R 


d  d 


a 
o 

files 

.Si 

OS 


«  u  3." 


03 


a  a  oj 
o  3  2      _ 


•<02 


oJ  C3 


d  d  iH 


d  d-=' 


0.2 
Ji-S 


(3d   c3'~  d  t.' 


55  S 


a 

01 


"  3 

"  3  ^ 

_  '^  2  * 

:^d"S 


S     .  K  a  "  ■  — 


05  .-S  « 

|.9sa£f£?l 

°  ">  — ■-  (8  O  Oi 


.O 


©■■3  .-- 
S.d  2 


_-•-?'  •tVT    TO    ^    1- 


S 


'Mi 


—  —  o    -■»  «  <u  o 

'^  ca  ticlo  J-  d  d  ^ 

«)0Ja>a^a)=8c8Oi«05iS33[S!3 


CO  c8 

I  :«^ 

feu 

CO   ^^  U) 

Jfc,  d 

t-   3   ^-   w 
«.-   O  U 


'5"-5  8Sa''3'« 


249 


73 
0) 
.£3 

^^ 

as 
5dg,g 

f^r"^  ±    3    g  .2 

d_.W^-W 

.a.„-.2H.. 

d  5-5^  »  o 
03  OJ  — -S'::  d 

^   t^   CT3  00  X  •-« 


a  c3 

03  a 

-  > 


■f  ■« 


CATS  O 

o  o  "^ 

i2  o  o  03 

OJ  d  u:=: 

T)  fl  c;  IS 


<£ 


^a 


_-  d 
.- (t  « 
d^  «; 
a  «  3 


03  04  c« 
—  -*^  fc« 

?  «  d 
iid« 

g     COl-J 

.  .o 

IS  03  d 

!J1  bl  d 
o;  £1  a> 


03 

d. 

3 

►:) 

o 

a 

—  ^<2 

M3 
3  O  (U 

—-oi-i 


V  OO.— 

d  00  N 

O  O    N 

O  O  3 


I 

H 

m 


a 

U 

to  ® 


o 

'  <*  d  >i  o  ^  ^ 


■♦a 

a 


<o 
o 


a 


o 


!^_       O       ,■:; 

013  «-S  rt  ">  M 
•»J3  o  a*  oi  o  ID  '^ 


,    u  a)  Sh  ^^ 

M     tH     g     O     CC     «^ 


o 

(D    > 


w   «J  o:   ^  .^ 


;.2  o 


«J  M  r  •"  to 
O  «  S  S  a;  3 


3  es  ;^  fc,       _ 

5  .!2  .a*  ?*  «  M 

a  a  o  t)  c3  w 


.2 

T3  a 
o  -^^ 


2 
o  B  §  a. 

H    M    g  Z    CO 

ts'cosc  0  J: 

J,  co*3  03  S 


.-  a>  (9 

>-    O  U 
3  O  <U 


CO   O 


•< 
iz; 


„  ca  03    '  ^<'  ■  «  fl  0       O'S  oi  d    ■       oj  >,78 

■     ^  t^H  -^^   ^   .Ji^  ^  i^M      X      »   ,•«     (*s      iZ   -_rt  -_J  '-H   .-^   _^      CJ  -rH    ^  .^  , 

oS5>r5>5gg>;g-5£;>;<ua)>oojr-" 


a  <a  a  a-~ 

Ot3  c4  08  H  c5 

.2"  xch  2t;  «> 


tj)  . 


o 
.  -i3Q     

;s  .-r.2 .2  n  ^  o  «i      '^ 
o  a  p,  ft- j;  o  T3  « •"- « 

J^t-  C«  03  J5  n  03  o  o  o 

cQc8cQ^cdo3^^^o3 


©  C3 
Pi  N 

p.a 

CO    V 

3  a 


■  a 
•  o 
■O 


03  CS-T-X! 

a  a-g.H 
^  »-•  ;s  ^ 

cQ  c8  c3  c€ 


p.a  . 

'  cii'S   ' 
01  a   - 

Si2 
b     "3 

bets  a 

03  htl-~ 

T3  a  t. 

a>  c?  (D 


Bee 
a 


OS 


^  w  w 

3T3'a 


llllf 


a  a--=T3 

•aT3.~  <B 


ca 
0.5  § 

"3  o  fa  g-Wi 
t>  cs.2  «  0 


tiOcS 

.2  is 

^^  +^   CO 

•*  9'3 
.«.<  3.3 

T3  u  a 


s 


ew<! 


^1  o  a 

ca  3  cu'-M    . 

-  -  -  .2  a; 

.2  aSs'-SS 
o  Mia  eg  g 

250 


o 

*CLi 

£  a.p.i£ 

J—  o  » 

CO       , 

0)  (D.xr  o 
>.■  h  ^  h 
0000 


3 
■:c! 


O  03  OJ 


O  o 

M    >-    O 

S.2ce  C3  0 

fc.fL(  a-  a 

2gO._-o 


II 

u  a     o 
cej3  03  « 

0! 

ds 

a 


W 


:  oj  : 


■tata 


^l^s;^;;^; 


.^  .t^  ca  cs  ca 


-  °.«- 
.2  '5  ""^  '.S 

ce  a>  3  ea 
:=:  a  a  h 
ca  ca  OS  c8 


O 

tH 

St 


"3 
'3) 


a 
a 


O 

>H 

o 
o 


•o.S 

fl     IL, 

^^5 


Q. 


o 

■•a 
es 
60 


d 


C3 

0.      O  "    " 


« 


S     5  M  s  C3  5, 

o  .-H  ,r>  '^  -<  f«  !r^ 
o 


oi  o  a;  O 

CO  ■»->    U;    GO 

>H      O     Sh      bl 


b    83    O 
^   -*^    (-1 

<^  &^ 

<«  o 

■"m  «   t.   ° 


~       o 


h 

a 

es 

a 

e3 


a 
o 


g-S.a 


0  cs 

01  t^ 


Ot3 
O  "5 


Si  ^ 

O 


"  "^ 


.9  o 


CA 


3! 

bt> 
a> 

"« 

'd  ♦»  TJ  '^  T? 
03  >^  ^  ^  ^ 
"tn  c"3  "co  "»  "CQ 

QJ  *^    a)    Q    03 

a:  ^  w  M  w 

t,    w    t<    !-    (h 

3^33=! 


fl 
:i 
o 

& 

5     a 
ft    .2 

-*^         3 


**  w  2  S 

a  *i 

O    cs   U  03 

^  .22  i  ^ 

^  *CC'    CO  ^ 


02  .-- 

-53.2  1=1 


o,a  a  t« 

w  Mo  t,  3 

.2-2  is  2-0 


-  -a  ■"  i?"  a  o 


S3 

9  S  "  '      '  ■     ®  „ 

aa  floflcgflsffij  a  o.Sfg  a 


a  a 


"°"«°   = 


a 

03   O   M  CD 

aa^a 

O   O  P   P 


o  o 

a '3 .9 .2 

03  .^    W  -^  "^ 


L-'3«a«S=«o503o3o^r->oc3--ocac3v-«;:i.i;ooop 


H 

g 


60 

a 

a  03  cs  ca  „  o 

3  o  o  o 


a  *^ 

a  '3  ,.  "3  u  *«  •* 


a 
o 
■*-» 

C3 

ssa 

O  O  ti 

•-■-  o  2 

c3  e3*t^  *co 
b,  b,  a  o 

CO  CO        3  — 

ma'a  sSS 
5;  a  Sxijz-a 

S'5'^  3  3^ 


S  t>  £  P  >  > 


a-~  >  > 


a  flS  c3  oS 
."  o  u  o 


g  o  c3  c3  a 


>  >  >  >  > 
555(53 


< 


hi 

cS 


do 

I" 


5^ 
Q2 


<s  a 
a  a 
'■3  3 

■S.2 

A4&4 


a 

a 
a     .2 

-J  _- 
s     '^  a 

^.-  o 
o  a  c 


IS 

a 

03    0) 
fl   cc  w 


^ 


o- 


O  CO  3 


CS' 
-"Oh 

>   .  a 

;i:  CO 


CS 

a 
c 


s 


=o 


SSSSS^Si^f^tfc^ 


bo  C3 

a  3- 

3  S 
'  o  o 


251 


—  J2  o±; 
to'S-c^ 

--J     ^ 

03  ai-«  CO  03 

a!  >  >  M  J 

O   O  O  3   3 


H  -1  a  ^.i 

si-lflj  a.. 


o 

1^,  :  -fta 
o      o 

„  O    O   >i 

o  a  o'5W 

r<i£--.9 

"•—  S  > 

-    03 

3SQ 
bo 

c  d 

33  C   C3  a  C3 
CCCQOQOiCQ 


r  a  0-. 

^  a  ^ 
a  »  t> 


ca 

_a 

"  a 

a 
■3< 

a 

03   C3 

02  02 


.9.2    ."«  ca 


0<^S  -f^ 


■a  --^ 


Sla£.S 

'ti'cS  C3  c;!c 
;  rt  u  w  -  o 


o 

•a  O  c; 

mmm 


^  0) 

^  t< 

—  (UTi 

m  «J  K^ 

■  "    U  r\ 

■"    »!  S    fl 

fO  S  Q'  a.  z; 

»-;  TO  Qj  ^ 

.  h  p.  o  J^  >- 


a  o  2 


u 


ccE-i'f 


Of-S   -4-* 

^  o  w 


t-  a 

o  CS 


So 

0;   >. 


!r,  2  ^-  « 

•-''CO 


Va 


-  o2  2 
t>_o  o  o 


«s    .    .    .  b  '^    .    .        .    .    •  * 
>-<        .    .  ^M    .    .  -^  a 

ffiOq  tea  S'S'n        °C 

fl  bJg  =  E  S  S  «-E^  e  SE  Mfe 


o 


•8 

.o 

a>  eo 

C—  M 

5  o  a 

K  aj  o 


■ « 


J.  Mg 

!h    bob 


[iH2«<!EKP;>«SSKUK^H^Stftf«SE^PHEtfb 


252 


o 
Mi  ^  .5  a 

(life  a;  oT  oT     l2 
,;■£  «■  P.S.2.2 

be  U) 

■NN 


APPENDICES  253 


APPENDIX  XII 

Statement  of  Some  of  the  Chief  Items  Other  Than 

Medical  and  Surgical  Supplies  Received  and 

Distributed  by  the  A.  R.  C.  in  Italy 

Milk    5,055,600  cans 

Flour 2,145,100  lbs. 

Meat    (barreled  beef  and  pork) 1,996,600    " 

Canned   Soup 480,000  cans 

Beans    17,690  sacks 1,769,000  lbs. 

Peas     5,885      "     588,500    " 

Sugar    6,770      "    677,000    " 

Lard    1,365  tierces 477,750    " 

Bacon  and  salt  pork 839,982    " 


FEINTED   IN    THB    TJNITKD    STATES    0»   AMEEICA 


C-;. 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

Santa  Barbara 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DIE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW. 


innhx   I  I  /fiA  Car;ac  QAat 


JjC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

AA      000  295  446    9 


